Even if an aspirated mite is infected, it won’t necessarily get sick – the most important thing is not to make a serious mistake

It turns out that even if the mite is infected with the Borrelia bacteria that causes Lyme disease, if it behaves properly, it won’t necessarily get sick. It is very important to remove the tick as soon as possible and not to compress your abdomen, which contains dangerous bacteria.

Tick-borne diseases (Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis) are particularly relevant to the population of the Baltic States, as they are particularly prevalent in the region. This time the show, in detail about Lyme disease.

Family doctor V. Morozov asked infectologist L. Jančorienė if people should rush to remove the aspirated mite or if it is better to use specialists.

“In some cases, how long the mite has been infested can lead to infection. This is the case, if we are talking about Lyme disease, the longer a mite sucks blood, the longer it is absorbed, the greater the risk of Lyme disease if that tick is infected. Therefore, its prompt removal as soon as it is noticed is really very rational, “said Professor L. Jančorienė.

Doctors say on the show that when the mite is absorbed, it generally spells out the contents of its abdomen at the same time, and that’s where borella tuna, which causes Lyme disease.

If the tummy is compressed by pulling on the tick, bacteria can enter the wound and cause disease.

Before trying to remove the tick with tweezers, the infectious disease specialist advises to aim well, grasp the tick as close to human skin as possible, and pull up, perpendicular to the skin.

Professor L. Jančorienė adds that not all bites and redness can be caused by ticks, unpleasant skin irritations can also be caused by other insects.

“If it does not go away on its own and the person still sees that the skin rash is changing, the spot is spreading and the skin is red, it may be the first stage of Lyme disease,” the doctor said.

One of the first symptoms of Lyme disease is migratory erythema (red).

When should you worry anyway?

The professor says that after the mite is absorbed, it takes time for a certain amount of the pathogen to multiply.

“As soon as the tick bites, there can be no Lyme borreliosis. If a person notices a bite and sees that it is a tick and then feels itching, redness, swelling, bumps there, it does not at all mean that it is Lyme disease is a normal reaction to the sting. In this case, it is possible to apply special balms, some relaxing ointments, advises the infectologist.

– But if a week or more has passed and a person has practically forgotten the bite site and notices that there is an expanding redness, which is usually not itchy, painless, no other symptoms, it can definitely be a symptom of Lyme: migratory erythema, the first stage Lyme disease. “

If the symptoms of Lyme disease are evident and the person has even seen a tick that may have been bitten or absorbed, a test is not necessary. The doctor makes a diagnosis and prescribes antibiotic treatment.

“With the popularity of remote consultation due to quarantine, the photos are definitely enough, they are clear enough, and if there was a sting, it is really possible to diagnose Lyme disease,” emphasizes family doctor V. Morozov.

Prof. L. Jančorienė says investigation is needed in rare cases when Borrelia damages the peripheral nervous system.

“The muscles of the shoulder girdle are generally damaged, the person begins to express, as we say, summer radiculitis, suddenly there are very strong pains that descend to the legs (difficult to move); It is especially emphasized that these pains are very severe at night, so one should think of Lyme disease, which has damaged the peripheral nervous system. In this case, laboratory tests must be used ”, explains the infectologist.

The doctor says that to diagnose neuroborellosis, you need to do a spinal tap, drink cerebrospinal fluid, and examine it.

The professor says that patients often report that they have been bitten by a mite and, although people feel fine, have no symptoms, they perform the test at their own discretion.

“In my opinion, this is completely unwarranted because we don’t treat the tests, we treat the patient, and Lyme disease is diagnosed first clinically when there are signs of the disease and then it may be secondary to some laboratory tests, then we can decide the tactics of treatment, “says the professor.

All the conversation with the family doctor V. Morozov and the infectologist of the Santara clinics prof. See L. Jančoriene in the recording of the program.