Is this a tick bite?

[Red Squirrel]

Was working out in the yard cutting down some cedar hedges so got in plenty of contact with the branches etc. Could this be a tick bite?


(click for higher res)

We have those here now so I'm paranoid AF about getting lyme disease, about 50% of them that get tested test positive. At least in the past years. Have not heard anything this year.

I'm thinking it's not a tick bite as I don't think they're out yet, but better safe than sorry. I don't really feel like waiting in the ER over a bug bite but if it's a tick then I don't have much choice as there's a limited time to act.

The bite was bleeding at some point, but I was dirty so I thought I just cut myself with a branch and did not pay attention to it until now.

 

[lxskllr]

If it was a tick bite, you'd have a tick attached.

 

[purbeast0]

Dunno but I had lyme disease and have no clue where the bite was on my body. Never saw it or anything. Pretty sure I know where I was bit but never had proof of a tick bite or anything.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I see a bit of a bump inside but I don't think there's a tick, but don't they fall off once they got enough blood anyway?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Dunno but I had lyme disease and have no clue where the bite was on my body. Never saw it or anything. Pretty sure I know where I was bit but never had proof of a tick bite or anything.

Yeah that's what can suck, can easily get bit and not even know. Could easily happen in my hair or beard, I'd never know either. I try to avoid letting my head touch any of the branches though but they could still fall off I suppose.

 

[lxskllr]

I think ticks take a couple days to burrow deep enough to feed, then they get huge and fall off.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

appears way too big for a tick bite, also for lyme you typically need the tick on you for a long time (this doesn't mean always) and that is absolutely a spot where you would notice a tick.
I am a little concerned about the infected red circle however if it goes away with a cleaning and some ointment I wouldn't stress over it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Cedar wood/sawdust can cause a bit of irritation right? Maybe it's just that, hopefully. Maybe I actually got poked by a branch though that does look like a bug bite, don't care if it's not a tick though but I will want to keep an eye on it. The lighter red circle is starting to fade so I'm starting to think I'm safe.

As a side note I found an article from 2019 that they are working on a vaccine that will be available in a few years. I imagine covid-19 slowed that down but as soon as that is available you can bet I will be going for that jab for peace of mind. I hate having to wear long pants and long sleeves in summer it's just too hot, so I don't. It's not a 100% deterrent anyway as they'll eventually find exposed skin.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Looks like a spider bite. If you live in a high tick area, treat your work boots, work socks and work pants with permethrin.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Cedar wood/sawdust can cause a bit of irritation right? Maybe it's just that, hopefully. Maybe I actually got poked by a branch though that does look like a bug bite, don't care if it's not a tick though but I will want to keep an eye on it. The lighter red circle is starting to fade so I'm starting to think I'm safe.

As a side note I found an article from 2019 that they are working on a vaccine that will be available in a few years. I imagine covid-19 slowed that down but as soon as that is available you can bet I will be going for that jab for peace of mind. I hate having to wear long pants and long sleeves in summer it's just too hot, so I don't. It's not a 100% deterrent anyway as they'll eventually find exposed skin.

Sort of reminds me of black fly or horse fly bite. Haven't had one since I was a kid but I remember them being big bites that got swollen like yours.
However it was close to a bee sting in pain when you got bit. Not the type thing you wouldn't notice when you got bite.

Again, clean it apply anti infection ointment, keep it covered for a day or so but periodically take a peak at it to ensure it isn't getting worse.

 

[MrSquished]

take one of these every month and you'll be good

 

[WelshBloke]

Sort of reminds me of black fly or horse fly bite.

It does look like one of those!

I sometimes get gnat bites that look like that if you scratch them without noticing you got bit.

 

[mikeymikec]

'Bullseye' rash:

Tick bite? How to spot Lyme disease

Tick season runs from May to October in Minnesota. If you spend time outdoors, it’s important to know how to spot a tick bite and the symptoms of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Read on for advice from Allen J. Mork, MD, on how to safely remove a tick and when to seek medical care...

www.allinahealth.org

 

[MtnMan]

I see a bit of a bump inside but I don't think there's a tick, but don't they fall off once they got enough blood anyway?

Yea, but you would notice, not to mention it takes days.

 

[Red Squirrel]

'Bullseye' rash:

Tick bite? How to spot Lyme disease

Tick season runs from May to October in Minnesota. If you spend time outdoors, it’s important to know how to spot a tick bite and the symptoms of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. Read on for advice from Allen J. Mork, MD, on how to safely remove a tick and when to seek medical care...

www.allinahealth.org

Yeah I googled that, it seems it starts off similar to what my bite looks like but it looks like it can grow quite large. I think it's too late at that point though. Mine is not growing so I'm probably good.

I know they can latch for a while but does not mean they always will either, so just because there is no tick does not mean it did not bite me then fall off. I was working in quite a rough environment, branches swipping against me etc so it could have easily flung it off while I was working. It's not changing though and the red "outer target" part is mostly gone now, so I think I'm safe.

 

[Red Squirrel]

take one of these every month and you'll be good

View attachment 44801

Might have to throw one or two of those in the trail mix snack when I go camping! lol.

 

[Muse]

Dunno but I had lyme disease and have no clue where the bite was on my body. Never saw it or anything. Pretty sure I know where I was bit but never had proof of a tick bite or anything.

How did you know you contracted Lyme?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Yea, but you would notice, not to mention it takes days.

Can they seriously get that big? We don't have a whole of ticks here where I live and I try to keep my weeds and stuff down for our dogs. That's f'n disgusting...

 

[purbeast0]

How did you know you contracted Lyme?

After not knowing wtf was wrong with me for like 2 weeks and doing research, I went to the doc and when I told the doc I think I might know what it could be and told them Lyme disease, she said that is what she was thinking as well.

So I took a blood test and it looks for like 12 things in lyme, and if you have 6 then you are diagnosed with it. I believe I had 4 or 5 and she thinks it was because we caught it early. I was put on antibiotics immediately and within like 4 days I was feeling better.

 

[Steltek]

There are blood antibody tests for Lyme disease.

Most people who are infected with Lyme disease are infected by immature nymph stage ticks (at that stage of development, they are only about 5/64th of an inch/2mm long and thus easier to miss for the 36-48 hours they normally have to be attached to spread the disease). Most times, the infected person will literally never see the tick that infected them because they are so small.

 

[MtnMan]

Can they seriously get that big? We don't have a whole of ticks here where I live and I try to keep my weeds and stuff down for our dogs. That's f'n disgusting...

Oh yes, Seen them like that on dogs.

A saying around here (I live in the south) after a big meal.... "I'm as full as a tick ready to fall off the dog".

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Yeah I have pulled of ticks the size of small grapes from my dog. I need to do a decent tick search after going in the woods or every week or so. They tend to go in hidden places like his “arm pit” (dog pit?) or under his chin or behind an ear.
Per my previous vet, there is something about dogs blood ticks really like. Human & Cat blood are for hungry ticks.
Also the dog Lyme vaccine is basically the human Lyme vaccine they started to make 20 years ago but some assholes complained about stiff joints so its maker said nope, not going to deal with that did a minor reformulation and made it for pets.
There are people who take the dog Lyme vaccination under the table so to speak and not many people so don’t think it is a common thing.

 

[MtnMan]

How did you know you contracted Lyme?

Living in tick country, it's standard practice if you find a tick attached, to remove it with tweezers being sure to get the head, then make a note on a calendar where on your body the tick was attached, and check for any kind of rash/ring 2 - 3 weeks later.

Brad Paisley has it figured out after a walk in a field with a pretty girl....

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Living in tick country, it's standard practice if you find a tick attached, to remove it with tweezers being sure to get the head, then make a note on a calendar where on your body the tick was attached, and check for any kind of rash/ring 2 - 3 weeks later.

Brad Paisley has it figured out after a walk in a field with a pretty girl....

^^^This^^^
plus bag the tick and put it in the freezer, they can be tested later if needed.
I don’t get many tick bites but it happens every few years. I do as above, pull the tick, treat the area with some kind of antiseptic and monitor it for rings over a few days.
You could get tested for Lyme disease but it is stupid expensive and usually not needed.

 

[MtnMan]

I guess the checking for ticks is the key. Supposedly takes about 24 hours for an infected tick attaches to infect you. Last ones I've found were still walking around, so just disposed them.

You don't want Lyme disease, have a friend that has been dealing with it for 2 years now. Also, her doc told her not to get the COVID vaccine due to the Lyme disease.

Then there is another tick disease, carried by the Lone Star tick, that leaves you allergic to red meat.