Has anyone ever heard of being bitten by a tick flea? A doctor told my friend she was bit by a tick flea and not to worry. She had alot of inflammation around the bite. It did sting and itch so maybe it wasn't a tick. She never saw what bit her.
I couldnt find any info on tick fleas..I told her to find a doctor to give her a month of antibiotics just in case.
Any thoughts ??
[ 08-08-2010, 12:08 PM: Message edited by: Deb133 ]
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- I'm going break from my usual habit of searching it out and, taking the luxury of just speaking from the hip, I don't think there is such a thing as a "tick flea" - and I'd put money on that.
A lot of inflammation around ANY bite would be a concern. I agree, she needs to find a different doctor. Mosquitoes carry lots of infections - including lyme, too, by the way.
Sometimes, tick bites can sting - most of the time, they do not but sometimes they do if they are taking a second bite and lost some of their numbing juice they normally inject.
I'd get a photo of that bite - with inflammation, is that a rash sort of appearance or swelling - or both? -
Posted by mcg08002 (Member # 24617) on :
This is what happen to me 4 months ago!!!!
My first tick bite was last year.
Then, while I was visitng my dad before I got married a couple months back, I woke up with what I called "flea tick" in my arm. It's head was in me with its body standing straight up. I was so confused. My step mom took it off and said it was only a flea. Then I said, fleas dont stick there head in you and stick straight up!
Now I have Bartonella ;-(
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- There are no results for the search of "flea tick" at Google, other than for products that treat both fleas and ticks.
Same with "tick flea" - no separate creature has that name.
Those who use that term may be referring to tiny nymph ticks, which are more dangerous than some of the larger ones, actually. -
Posted by Deb133 (Member # 18544) on :
Yeah I couldnt find anything either Keebler...when I saw the mark it was like a deep red thick ring around where she had the bite...but she also said it was much bigger than that and has been shrinking...hmm....I bet it was a tick...
I will insist again that she get to a doctor and get antibiotics....
Thank you !!!!
Posted by mcg08002 (Member # 24617) on :
Yeah, Nymph would make since. I just looked at a pic of one, and it does look like a "flea tick". Just like the one in my arm. Ugh, just grosses me out.
Keebler, how big can these things get?
Posted by Deb133 (Member # 18544) on :
ok..I am an idiot...I meant to say deer flea..what the heck is wrong with me ?????
No..its not lyme brain as my daughter is the one with lyme...
So instead of tick flea I meant to say deer flea....
WOW....
I feel so dumb....
Posted by 'Kete-tracker (Member # 17189) on :
I don't believe that there's a specific flea species that's found [primarily] on deer.
hmmm.. I did a google check & some "bug folks" over at <myrmecos.net> do indeed acknowledge such a creature... even have a couple pics of the sucker, so... who knows??
- Well, I did not know there are actually Deer Fleas - interesting to see photos from Kete-tracker's link.
Still, regardless of what someone wants to call it - or what it actually was - fleas can carry lyme, too. So what bit her is not the big matter of concern as lyme can be transmitted by many vectors, not just ticks.
You said: " . . . the mark it was like a deep red thick ring around where she had the bite. . . ."
Regardless of what bit her, that rash is highly suspect for lyme and I'd get to a LLMD ASAP. -
Posted by Deb133 (Member # 18544) on :
Thanks Kete and Keebler....I am going to call her today...when I saw that rash on Friday..my first thought was "holy crap" and when she told me it was even bigger...I told her she needs antibiotics..
BUT some people just don't want to listen or believe we know what we're talking about..so I'm not sure if she'll take my advice or not...
Atleast I can say...we tried....
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
The National Lyme Disease Memorial Park Project -
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I love it - it was very funny - the insects and arachnids are getting creative on us...
The tick-flea hybrid is also known as "tea", as in a drink you really don't want in this case, or a "flick." And if you ask me, I'd rather have the flick option.
It was probably a deer tick. Altho Lyme has been found in 23 insects now, so who knows exactly what kind of critter it was.
Deb, your friend needs to see a Lyme-treating doctor. Sounds like she had the EM rash. A regular one will not put her on high enough antibiotics and she'll go chronic.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
EM rashes grow. Tell her that! She needs treatment ASAP!!
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