What is an engorged tick?
An engorged tick is a tick that has fed on the blood of its host and has become swollen and enlarged. When ticks first attach to a host, they are quite small – often less than a couple millimeters in size. However, as they feed, they can expand their bodies to many times their original size. A tick that has fed to full engorgement can be nearly the size of a grape or olive.
Engorged ticks are most often encountered after they have been attached and feeding on a host for several days. During this time, they use their mouthparts to pierce the skin and anchor themselves while sucking blood from the host. The longer a tick feeds, the more engorged it will become.
Signs of an engorged tick
There are a few key signs that indicate a tick has become engorged:
– Size – An engorged tick can be substantially larger than an unfed tick. The level of engorgement will depend on how long it has been attached and feeding.
– Body shape – As a tick feeds, its body will go from flat and oval to more rounded and bulbous in shape. A fully engorged tick has a greatly distended abdomen.
– Color – Unfed ticks often have dark black or brown coloring. Engorged ticks can take on a slightly gray, bluish, or reddish hue on their expanded bodies. The color results from blood seen through the tick’s stretched exoskeleton.
– Difficulty removing – The longer a tick feeds, the more securely it anchors itself in the skin. Fully engorged ticks can be very difficult to remove given how firmly their mouthparts become implanted.
Risks of engorged ticks
There are a few reasons it’s important to properly remove an engorged tick as soon as possible:
– Disease transmission – The longer a tick stays attached and feeding, the greater the risk it will transmit any infections it may carry. Ticks can spread several types of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
– Skin reactions – People can develop localized skin irritation, infection, or allergic reaction at the tick bite site. Leaving an engorged tick in place increases these risks.
– Difficult removal – The deeper a tick burrows into the skin, the harder it is to fully extract it. This can increase the chances of the mouthparts breaking off and remaining in the skin.
How to safely remove an engorged tick
Removing an engorged tick properly is extremely important. Here are some recommended steps:
1. Use fine-tipped tweezers
Specialized fine-tipped tweezers are ideal for gripping the tick as close to the skin as possible. The tweezers should have a flat, angled tip narrow enough to grab the tick’s mouth. Avoid using household tweezers with thicker, blunt tips.
2. Grasp the tick carefully
Use the tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Take care to avoid squeezing or crushing the tick’s swollen abdomen. Grab right where the mouthparts enter the skin.
3. Pull straight up and out
After securing a grasp with the tweezers, pull slowly and steadily straight upward, perpendicular to the skin. Apply gentle, constant pressure – do not jerk, twist, or crush the tick. Just steadily lift it out.
4. Clean the bite area
After removal, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, soap and water, or an antiseptic. Apply an antibiotic ointment or cream to the site to prevent infection.
5. Dispose of the tick
After removal, dispose of the live tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers during removal.
6. Monitor for symptoms
Keep an eye on the bite site for any signs of rash, irritation, or infection in the days following tick removal. Also monitor yourself for potential flu-like symptoms that could indicate a tick-borne illness. Contact a doctor if any concerning or persistent reactions develop.
Home remedies to avoid
There are some conventional home treatments for tick removal that are NOT recommended:
No petroleum jelly or hot matches
Applying petroleum jelly or lit matches to a tick to try to get it to back out on its own simply gives the tick more time to keep feeding or regurgitate infected fluids into the wound. This likely increases disease risk.
No nail polish or latex band
Similarly, methods like covering a tick in nail polish or tying it off tightly with a latex band are intended to force the tick to detach. But this can also take time and runs the risk of agitating the tick or having its mouthparts remain stuck in the skin.
No rotating or rocking
Attempting to rotate or rock a tick counter-clockwise in an effort to unscrew it is not an effective removal technique. It may even cause the mouthparts to twist off. A straight upward lift out is safer.
When to seek medical care
In most cases, you can safely remove an attached tick at home with fine-tipped tweezers using proper technique. However, it’s a good idea to reach out to a doctor or other healthcare provider if:
– The tick’s mouthparts break off and remain in the skin after attempted removal.
– An inflammatory infection develops around the bite.
– Any worrisome symptoms of illness arise after a tick bite.
– Multiple endemic tickborne diseases are common in your geographic region.
– The bite victim is a child.
If tickborne diseases are a significant concern, your doctor may be able to test the tick itself for infection or prescribe prophylactic antibiotic treatment after an engorged tick bite. Healthcare providers can also closely monitor the development of any symptoms or reactions.
Preventing tick bites
Here are some key strategies for avoiding tick bites in the first place when spending time outdoors:
– Wear light colored clothing so ticks can be easily spotted. Tuck pants into socks.
– Use insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin and clothing.
– Stay in the middle of trails when hiking and avoid high grass and brush.
– Bathe or shower within two hours of coming indoors to wash off any loose ticks.
– Carefully check yourself, children, and pets for ticks after being outdoors.
– Treat dogs and outdoor gear with acaricides containing permethrin.
Conclusion
Engorged ticks can be safely removed from skin by using fine-tipped tweezers and steadily pulling straight up with gentle traction. Avoid folk remedies that may agitate the tick during removal. After extracting the tick, clean and disinfect the bite site thoroughly. Monitor for any signs of allergic reaction or possible tickborne disease infection. Calling a healthcare provider for guidance can be prudent in some cases. Preventive measures like repellents, protective clothing, and prompt tick checks after outdoor exposure can help reduce the risks associated with tick bites and attachment.