Bitten by ticks. Black dot at centre.

[FISH BOY]

Did a successful stalk Friday in Sussex and did a work party on my game shoot in Essex Saturday so been out and about.

Didn't notice until Sunday afternoon while sitting around after a BBQ in the sunshine, that I had two 1.5/2mm ticks bored into my shins at the boot line. Used my tick remover, but not sure how successful it was due to the angle and that the front half seemed fairly buried, so also used my thumbnail to have a go at digging them out.

This morning I noticed a small black dot at the eye of one of the bites and gave it another dig out with the thumbnail to no avail - literally have cut the skin away 3mm all round, to it being red raw and exposed but the black dot just wont go.

Having read loads of slightly worrying threads on here im very much keeping an eye on it but wondered if the black dot/reminisce of the tick was normal?

 

[Essexsussex]

In the absence of a better informed response from one the lymes experts on here, I would get to the doctor as soon as possible and get the antibiotics prescribed, it's not worth taking chances. You will most likely have to point a Kent doctor in the right direction, even the highland ones struggle to make a link often.

hopefully someone better informed will help you out more, but I would act quickly.

 

[TOMMO.B]

Its the large red circle around the bite you worry about, if the head is still in then it will work its way out. keep it clean till you see your doc.

 

[Andy7mm]

Its the large red circle around the bite you worry about, if the head is still in then it will work its way out. keep it clean till you see your doc.

+1

had two in my neck for years, keep an eye out for the rash.

 

[Heym SR20]

Get to the Doctor asap. Rash, ring, bullseye etc only occur in 40 to 50% of cases. Get treated cos once it takes hold v difficult to get rid off completely.

 

[Matt Roberts]

Just keep and eye on it and try not to itch it too much... any rash etc and go to the Doc. If I went to the doctor every time I found a tick attached id never have time to go out stalking in the first place...

 

[opticron1]

Try and make sure you get Doxycycline if Lyme disease is suspected, don't get fobbed off with flucloxacillin unless it's a straightforward case of cellulitis (from digging around in your shin!). Hope this clears up quickly and no lasting damage!

 

[FISH BOY]

Cheers gents - it wasn't sore, itchy or red before I started tearing at it with my nails trying to get the head out.

Will keep a close eye on it.

Funny thing is - cant remember where the other one is! (was a good BBQ)

 

[Dexter]

If it starts feeling warm to the touch it's infected so get down the dr's asap. Been there, left it until Monday by which time I was limping big time and couldn't do my boots up. I always put a drop of Sudocrem on any tick bites now. Not sure if it helps or not but I haven't had an infection since.

 

[bogtrotter]

Did a successful stalk Friday in Sussex and did a work party on my game shoot in Essex Saturday so been out and about.

Didn't notice until Sunday afternoon while sitting around after a BBQ in the sunshine, that I had two 1.5/2mm ticks bored into my shins at the boot line. Used my tick remover, but not sure how successful it was due to the angle and that the front half seemed fairly buried, so also used my thumbnail to have a go at digging them out.

This morning I noticed a small black dot at the eye of one of the bites and gave it another dig out with the thumbnail to no avail - literally have cut the skin away 3mm all round, to it being red raw and exposed but the black dot just wont go.

Having read loads of slightly worrying threads on here im very much keeping an eye on it but wondered if the black dot/reminisce of the tick was normal?

I think you have left the head in , keep an aye on it any symptom's get to the Doctor straight away bulls eye rash( not always present) flue like symptoms or just feeling under the weather.

Some will suggest going to the Doctor in any case,however most Doctors won't treat you unless you have some symptoms. .

 

[badbob]

even the cleanest fingernails are not very clean to go gouging around.
so it may go slightly septic and you can squeeze it out or a sterile needle
might get it out.
Remember dont squeeze the body
grasp the head and use gentle but steady pressure to remove it.

 

[John Gryphon]

Aye sounds like the BLACK DOT OF DOOM is back again!

 

[lochty]

Go to the doctor. I didn't have the bullseye rash, but still ended up with Lyme s. It's not worth chancing it

 

[countrryboy]

To me it sounds more like u've left the head in, which could become infected itself but really not much different to a skelf, just keep an eye on it.
Might be worth sticking a plaster over it see if it draws it out

I'm not going to contridict the majority and tell u not to see the doc, but personally i wouldn't unless i had other symptoms.

Get urself on either Lyme Disease Action or BADA (if it's still going?) websites and read all the different symptoms for urself so u know wot to be looking out for and then u can decide if it's worth going.
But end of day if any doubt ur mibee as well going to doc's, but at the same time if u went every time u had a tick bite u'd never be away just got to use a bit of common sense really.

 

[FISH BOY]

Tick update:

Rushing to get on a train last night, I brushed up against something and felt a jab on the back of my ribs.

Got home to find this big beastie clamped on and having a good feed!!!!

Mrs was pathetic, so had to do it myself, left handed in a rather awkward spot but seem to get the whole thing out with my tick remover. Now kept in a jar as a pet.

Using sudacrem and antiseptic bite cream and feel ok, but booking up a docs appointment just in case.

Thinking about it now - think it happened when I took my jacket off to skin the animal as I only had a shirt on. Although covered in bug spray, will be a lot more careful next time.

Quick question though - can you drown ticks potentially by having a bath?

 

[badbob]

Yes thats a good one.
I would see the doc and take the photo, keep the tick,
be aware of any unusual symptoms.

Its an occupational hazzard
I check everywhere but you can occasionaly miss one.
A good shower might help wash away the little crawlies
but they are tenancious wee creatures
and once embedded they are entirely waterproof
and very tricky to remove.

Deet dos`nt realy work but rovince, or permethrin sprayed clothing is good

 

[FISH BOY]

Yes thats a good one.
I would see the doc and take the photo, keep the tick,
be aware of any unusual symptoms.

Its an occupational hazzard
I check everywhere but you can occasionaly miss one.
A good shower might help wash away the little crawlies
but they are tenancious wee creatures
and once embedded they are entirely waterproof
and very tricky to remove.

Deet dos`nt realy work but rovince, or permethrin sprayed clothing is good

Tenacious - say that again - took 3 runs over with the tool to get the fat little barsteward out!!! Nice soft part as well so almost cried...

Chatting to my dad about it, who lived in Australia for a while in the bush, said that locals used to use nail varnish to get them off. Said that if you put a drop on the kangaroo ticks, they almost instantly pull out and move off. Anyone else heard that?

 

[bogtrotter]

Tenacious - say that again - took 3 runs over with the tool to get the fat little barsteward out!!! Nice soft part as well so almost cried...

Chatting to my dad about it, who lived in Australia for a while in the bush, said that locals used to use nail varnish to get them off. Said that if you put a drop on the kangaroo ticks, they almost instantly pull out and move off. Anyone else heard that?

Don't do it ! extremely dangerous the only thing to use is a tick removal tool, all the tales of applying something to the tick are dangerous,why? While they make tick let go they also make it regurgitate its stomach contents straight into your blood stream the finest way to increase your chances of picking up a tick borne disease.

 

[FISH BOY]

Don't do it ! extremely dangerous the only thing to use is a tick removal tool, all the tales of applying something to the tick are dangerous,why? While they make tick let go they also make it regurgitate its stomach contents straight into your blood stream the finest way to increase your chances of picking up a tick borne disease.

Understood - many thanks

 

[opticron1]

Don't do it ! extremely dangerous the only thing to use is a tick removal tool, all the tales of applying something to the tick are dangerous,why? While they make tick let go they also make it regurgitate its stomach contents straight into your blood stream the finest way to increase your chances of picking up a tick borne disease.

Plus one with that!
Wouldn't count on washing them off - found 5 of the little b*ggers after a hot shower when up in the highlands, they were cleaner, but still attached had an entertaining few minutes with the tick tweezers getting the all clear from she-who-must-be-obeyed. They'd been hiding on a fleece I'd taken off and tied around my waist as it was a bit warm when out on the hill! Still itching at the thought of them