Question 1

what does an infected tick bite look ike?

Accepted Answer

No different: There is no way to tell infected vs noninfected deer tick bites by merely looking at them. However, if you see the typical bulls-eye rash, think lyme disease. All deer tick bites should assume to carry the lyme organism and should be treated with Doxycycline without waiting for blood test results or clinical lyme symptoms.

Question 2

if a tick bite becomes infected, what do you do?

Accepted Answer

Call your physician: If you have a skin infection, you should be seen by your physician to be treated appropriately.

Question 3

i have an infected tick bite. will cephalexin help?

Accepted Answer

What is the source?: I you have an infection from the organism that ticks carry (babesia protozoa), you need much different treatment.  If you have a secondary skin infection due to  bacterial contamination of the wound, it depends on the type.  Also, you would need the proper dose and duration of antibiotic.  This is best determined by a physician who can distinguish the source and prescribe properly.

Question 4

my 7 yr old has an infected looking pimple on her torso with a pinpoint size dot in middle now for few days could it be a tick bite? no bullseye

Accepted Answer

Possible: The pinsized dot may be a tick. Have her checked. The bullseye rash does not appear immediately. All the best.

Question 5

my father died in january and i really had a hard time a few month after i started getting sick and had no idea why i got infected from a tick bite i'm suffering horrible anxiety from lyme desease. it's taken over my life. im scared to go to sleep?

Accepted Answer

: Most importantly you have an accurate diagnosis and are on appropriate treatment. Now you could benefit from stress management coaching by a mental health professional. This cognitive treatment will help you to cope with your illness and allay  your marked anxiety about it. Getting reassurance about your cardiac status(if necessarily from a cardiologist) is very important, also.

Question 6

im taking doxycycline and ciprofloxacin together after getting an infected tick bite in zimbabwe. now have foot pain, swelling and cramping. reaction?

Accepted Answer

Possibly: It is possible it is a reaction to one of the medications, the other possibilities are it is related to the infection you are being treated for, or that you have another condition which had not yet been diagnosed.  It would be wise to be seen and fully evaluated for an accurate diagnosis.

Question 7

hoping you can tell me, is knot after a tick bite on humans normal?

Accepted Answer

Tick granuloma?: You might have a tick-bite granuloma. It usually develops days or months after the bite and can take months to years to resolve.  His might be caused by fragments of the tick still in your skin or might just have been a reaction to the tick’s saliva.  Itching is not uncommon. Bacteria and parasites can often co-occur with ticks.

Question 8

how can you tell the difference between a mosquito or spider bite infection vs a tick bite infection?

Accepted Answer

Limited space: Though spider, tick or mosquito bites can sometimes cause infection, the vast majority of them will not. A limited local inflammatory response can be expected from any of these. Symptoms exceeding this should be examined by a physician. 'spider bites' have become a common er complaint over the last several years, when in fact most of these are skin abscesses.

Question 9

i have a rash on my leg.  how can i tell if it is from a bite?  i'm particularly concerned about a tick bite.

Accepted Answer

See a doctor: Tick bites can cause Lyme disease and early treatment is important.  See a doctor and ask about doxycycline.  The classic rash is target shaped with a pink expanding ring and clear center.

Question 10

i got a tick bite on my penis and im to scared to tell anyone but when i took it off it started to turn red and itch and swell just want to know if im ok theres no bulls eye and i don't have the tick

Accepted Answer

I : I agree with the other doctor who wrote to you. It's important to talk with someone about this, because ticks are known to carry a number of infections, such as lyme disease, babesia, and other bacterias. Generally they are slow growing infections and the symptoms can sneak up on you, or come and go over time. It would be a good idea to discuss this with your parents or a doctor. They might decide to give you a few weeks of antibiotic treatment to prevent a chronic infection.

Take care
dr. Tedde rinker
los altos, ca.

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Doctor answers about:

How to tell if a tick bite is infected

A member asked:

What does an infected tick bite look ike?

A member asked:

If a tick bite becomes infected, what do you do?

A member asked:

I have an infected tick bite. will cephalexin help?

A member asked:

My 7 yr old has an infected looking pimple on her torso with a pinpoint size dot in middle now for few days could it be a tick bite? no bullseye

A member asked:

My father died in january and i really had a hard time a few month after i started getting sick and had no idea why i got infected from a tick bite i'm suffering horrible anxiety from lyme desease. it's taken over my life. im scared to go to sleep?

A member asked:

Im taking doxycycline and ciprofloxacin together after getting an infected tick bite in zimbabwe. now have foot pain, swelling and cramping. reaction?

A member asked:

Hoping you can tell me, is knot after a tick bite on humans normal?

A member asked:

How can you tell the difference between a mosquito or spider bite infection vs a tick bite infection?

A member asked:

I have a rash on my leg. how can i tell if it is from a bite? i'm particularly concerned about a tick bite.

A member asked:

I got a tick bite on my penis and im to scared to tell anyone but when i took it off it started to turn red and itch and swell just want to know if im ok theres no bulls eye and i don't have the tick

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