Ticks
Illustrations
Definition
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Poisoning from the bite of a tick.
Poisonous Ingredient
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Where Found
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Symptoms
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Ticks can be the source of several diseases including:The symptoms below refer more to the problems resulting from the bite itself, not the diseases it may cause. Some of the symptoms are specific to one variety of tick or another but not necessarily common to all ticks.
Home Treatment
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Remove the tick (see tick bite). Be careful not to leave the head embedded in the skin.
Before Calling Emergency
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Determine the following information:
- the patient's age, weight, and condition
- the name of the insect
- the time the bite occurred
- the part of the body affected
Poison Control, or a local emergency number
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They will instruct you if it is necessary to take the patient to the hospital. See Poison Control centers for telephone numbers and addresses.
If possible, bring the insect to the emergency room for identification.
What to expect at the emergency room
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Expectations (prognosis)
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The prognosis (probable outcome) will depend on what type of infection the tick may have been carrying and how soon appropriate treatment was begun.
Update Date: 2/23/2004
Updated by: Cherlin Johnson, M.D., Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
