posted
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 ]
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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posted
- 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? -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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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 ;-(
-------------------- Stephanie, University Student.
Ehrlichia [POSITIVE] IGG/IGM AB [H] 1.49 indexLyme AB interp. EIA [A] POSITIVE IGG P93 AB [PRESENT] IGG P41 AB [PRESENT] IGM P41 AB [PRESENT] IGM P23 AB [PRESENT] Lyme IGM WB interp. [A] [PRESENT] Posts: 145 | From Idaho | Registered: Feb 2010
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Keebler
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posted
- 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. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
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 !!!!
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
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?
-------------------- Stephanie, University Student.
Ehrlichia [POSITIVE] IGG/IGM AB [H] 1.49 indexLyme AB interp. EIA [A] POSITIVE IGG P93 AB [PRESENT] IGG P41 AB [PRESENT] IGM P41 AB [PRESENT] IGM P23 AB [PRESENT] Lyme IGM WB interp. [A] [PRESENT] Posts: 145 | From Idaho | Registered: Feb 2010
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posted
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....
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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'Kete-tracker
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 17189
posted
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??
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- 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. -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
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....
Posts: 499 | From Malta, NY | Registered: Dec 2008
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Keebler
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posted
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.
Posts: 13116 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
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