Tick Bites In Children: How To Identify And What To Do

Tick-borne Illnesses

Ticks are carriers of pathogens that can cause various illnesses, especially in children. Some of the most common ones are as follows:

• Rocky Mountain spotted fever
• Tularemia
• Ehrlichiosis
• Colorado tick fever
• Lyme disease
• Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI)

Symptoms Of Tick-borne Illnesses

Symptoms of Lyme disease:

• A few people might find a circular form of rash at the site of the bite. This is usually the first sign of infection for a few people and something that generally begins to occur within a week or two after the bite. The rash might get bigger taking form of an expanding ring of redness. The site might be warm to touch along with a burning and itching sensation. A few people also have flu-like symptoms.
• If left untreated, the infection might spread to other parts of the body. There could be irregular heart rhythm along with palpitations and dizziness.
• When left untreated, especially in kids, the infection can take the form of arthritis, which affects primarily the knee and at times other joints as well.

Symptoms of STARI:

• It appears like an expanding bull's eye rash caused due to the star tick bite. The rash ideally appears about a week after the bite.
• Apart from the rash, the affected person might show signs of fatigue, muscle pain, fever and headache.

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever:

• Rash appears about three days after the bite.
• Rash usually appears on the ankles and wrists. It then spreads to the legs, trunk, soles and palms.
• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Vomiting along with nausea
• Sore throat
• Stomach ache
• Decreased appetite

Symptoms of tularemia

• Formation of skin ulcer at the bitten site
• Swollen lymph nodes at the site of infection
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Headache

Symptoms of ehrlichiosis:

• The signs are quite similar to that of flu.
• Muscle pain
• Joint ache
• Chills
• Fever
• Headache
• Development of rash in some cases
• Vomiting and nausea

Diagnosis Of Tick-borne Illnesses

Diagnosis of Lyme disease:

Laboratory tests are conducted to reach a conclusion about the diagnosis of Lyme disease. The following tests might be suggested by the doctor:
• Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test: This test is able to detect antibodies to B. burgdorferi. However, this test alone cannot be the sole conclusive test as it can lead to false-positives. This test might not be effective especially during the early stages of this illness.
• Western blot test: This test is done once the ELISA test shows a positive in order to reach a perfect conclusion. This test is a two-step approach. The test works by detecting antibodies to various proteins of B. burgdorferi.

Diagnosis of STARI

Symptoms play a major role in diagnosing STARI. The cause of STARI is unknown and therefore there are no specific blood tests for its diagnosis. It is primarily identified through geographic location and the likelihood of coming across a tick bite.

Diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever

The early signs of this illness are quite similar to other diseases, thus making the identification of this disease quite difficult during the initial days. Blood sample can be tested to conduct a diagnosis in case symptoms are observed. In some cases the rash specimen or the tick itself are used in the form of evidence to reach a conclusive diagnosis. Early treatment is advised to prevent worsening of symptoms.

Diagnosis of tularemia

This disease is quite rare and most of the time, its symptoms are mistaken for some other illness. It is therefore essential to be aware of any kind of exposure to tick bites. The chances of contracting this illness are high in case the child has come in contact with a sick or dead animal. Diagnosis of this illness is primarily done through blood tests and cultures.

Diagnosis of ehrlichiosis

Ideally, this illness is confirmed after blood test reports are evaluated by a doctor. Blood tests are conducted in case the doctor doubts the symptoms that you specify and the probable cause of another illness with similar signs. However, conclusive test results may take weeks to show up. Most of the time doctors do not wait for the test results. Instead, they choose to begin antibiotic therapy as soon as possible.

Treatment Of Tick-borne Illnesses

How to treat Lyme disease?

Antibiotics are the most opted method of treating this illness.

• Oral antibiotics can easily treat the early stages of Lyme disease. For children older than 8 years of age, doxycycline is the best medicine. For younger children, amoxicillin or cefuroxime is preferred. The usual course of the antibiotics last from 14 to 21 days.
• In case the infection has affected the central nervous system, then intravenous antibiotics are the chosen form of treatment. These antibiotics can, however, have side effects, such as reduction of white blood cell count, mild diarrhoea, etc.

How to treat STARI?

As STARI closely resembles Lyme disease, doctors often choose to treat STARI using oral antibiotics.

How to treat Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

It is best if the person developing symptoms of this illness is treated within the first five days. This is the reason why most doctors do not wait to receive test reports but instead choose to begin antibiotic therapy to treat this illness. The most commonly prescribed drug is doxycycline. However, this might not be suitable for young children. For younger kids, doctors usually prescribe chloramphenicol as an alternative treatment medication.

How to treat tularemia?

The duration of the treatment through antibiotics usually lasts 10 to 21 days. However, the duration is dependent on the severity and stage of the illness. The most commonly prescribed drugs are gentamicin, doxycycline, ciprofloxacin and streptomycin.

How to treat ehrlichiosis?

Early signs of this illness can be easily treated with the use of antibiotics. The most recommended antibiotic treatment suitable both for adults and children is the use of doxycycline.

Home Remedies For Tick-borne Illnesses

• In case the tick is still attached to your child's skin, then the first step would be to remove it. Grasp the tick with tweezers and remove the head and its mouthparts. Pull it out straight and gently. Remember to wash your hands properly using soap and warm water after you have removed the tick.
• The bitten area should be cleansed using warm water and a mild soap.
• Infection can be prevented by applying alcohol on the bitten site.
• Use natural antibacterial supplements, such as cloves, mullein, Oregon grape, thyme, garlic, oregano essential oil, colloidal silver, rosemary, juniper berries, etc.
• The liver is the body's main filter and using milk thistle is the best way to cleanse the liver. Repairing organ damage and restoring blood are best facilitated with the use of hawthorn, dandelion root, marshmallow and red clover.
• You can apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly such that the bite does not stick to the bandage that covers the site of the bite,
• You can clean the wound using rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to prevent any kind of infection.
• In case your tick bite itches a lot, baking soda bath might be helpful. Being alkaline, it neutralizes the pH levels of the bitten site. In a tub of warm water, add about one cup of baking soda. Soak in it for about half an hour.

Most of the tick bites do not seem to be much harmful and most probably you would not even have an infection post the tick bite. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Approach a doctor in case flu-like symptoms develop or the signs of the bite do not seem to go away even after several days.
In case the redness of the region keeps expanding along with the swelling, then it is time to seek medical advice so that immediate antibiotic therapy can be started.