Tick Stages - disease transmission risk
Contributors to this thread:Connecticut
From: Buckster
20-Sep-17
I have a question that I'm hoping Dr. Williams can answer. Yesterday morning I woke up with at least 15 small red welts on my torso. Started thinking about bed bug bites since the welts had what appeared to be a tiny scab in the center. It turned out that every one of those tiny "scabs" were in fact larval or nymphal stage ticks! I have removed many nymphs in my travels but these were about twice the size of a period at the end of a sentence. My question for the Doc pertains to the risk that these bites pose. I understand that these early stage ticks pose almost no risk since they have not taken their first blood meal. Is this correct? Really freaked me out. Apparently I must have hit a cluster of these while crawling around in the leaf litter under my deck while installing my winter pool cover. If it wasn't for the raised welts on my skin I could have never detected those tiny buggers. I appreciate your response!
From: Buckster
20-Sep-17
Posting a picture of what I think are larval stage ticks.
From: steve
20-Sep-17
go too the doctor if he thinks you need it he will put you antibiotics .
From: Will
20-Sep-17
I've been told by several medial providers (my wife being one of them) that the CDC and "Up to date" (a resource providers use to implement the most "up to date" treatment protocols based on the most "up to date" research) is that you treat as a prophylactic at this point.
So, go to your doc or urgent care, show em the ticks and bites, and get checked out. Assuming they are treating sensibly, it's most likely you will be on meds for a little while... But it would be best to ask a provider, which is why getting checked is a good idea.
From: >>---CTCrow--->
20-Sep-17
If you want doc to answer blame WB. He'll be here in 2 minutes.
From: XbowfromNY
20-Sep-17
These should have come off when you showered?
From: Oneeye
20-Sep-17
If those are all ticks you can count on Lyme diease. Go to doctor and get antibiotics. A three day dose and you will be fine. Cdc has been pushing to reduce use of antibiotics so some doctors will blow you off and tell you come back if you have symptoms. Go to another doctor. I had Lyme twice. My wife once. No joke. But antibiotics right at beginning no worries. As a rant 80percent of antibiotics is in the livestock industry but cdc pushes docs to avoid antibiotics to people so people suffer and livestock antibiotics continues total BS.
From: >>---CTCrow--->
20-Sep-17
Haha. Oneeye no longer organic.
From: Dr. Williams
20-Sep-17
Dr. Williams's Link
Had to wait till lunch hour. Buckster. You are correct. You hit a deer tick larval patch. I bet your shirt wasn’t tucked in. You are also correct that they pose no risk of disease as you were their first bloodmeal. So larvae hatch uninfected but after they feed, they have a chance to ingest various pathogens from that host. If they feed successfully, they fall off and molt into nymphs. Nymphs then feed and molt into adults. Adult female feeds and then lays eggs. The various stages are active at different times of year. We are on the tail end of the larval season now with adults becoming active mid-late October. Nymphs are active June and July primarily and are small, but much more visible than larvae. No need to get tested. Larvae are just an annoyance and pose no risk. The attached link is a great site too: http://www.tickencounter.org/tick_identification And stay tuned for a press release today about another nasty parasite we and the Wildlife Division documented in FF County.
From: bigbuckbob
20-Sep-17
Doc - I already know what the release is about concerning a "Nasty Parasite in Fairfield County",..........It's Tony DiNicola and White Buffalo. BOOM goes the dynamite!! Hit that one out of the park. Thanks for teeing that one up for me Doc. I believe New York is also releasing a similar article about Staten Island. Seriously, appreciate the education on ticks because it effects all of us and it IS nice to have someone respond on this site who truly knows what he's talking about when it comes to something that can impact our health. Sorry about the dig, just can't help myself sometimes :) :) :)
From: notme
20-Sep-17
Doc couldnt you just leak the release like everybody else on goverment...
Grand master homie bob c slamin the mic..lol
From: Buckster
20-Sep-17
Thank you all for your responses. I really appreciate the informative reply. Having had three previous bouts with Lyme disease and successful treatments, I'd really like to avoid additional antibiotics if possible. I will still also consult with my practitioner for additional peace of mind. Thanks again.
From: Will
20-Sep-17
Dr Williams - that's cool info. I didnt realize there was a larval stage where the ticks were relatively clean, prior to nymphal stage... Thought it was nymph to adult only. Thanks for the education!
From: >>---CTCrow--->
20-Sep-17
Crap !!!
So doc, what you are telling us is that now all those poor tick larva are infected with the "BUCKSTER" virus?
From: Dr. Williams
20-Sep-17
Haha! Was thinking the same thing as I was typing that out.