Bitten by a kangaroo tick?!
Question: OK. I went to a park on Friday and then the next day around noon I noticed I had a small kangaroo tick on my stomach. I removed it straight away, it came out nicely but then yesterday morning (sunday) I woke up with a really itchy stomach and it was like a mosquito bite. It is red and still itchy today (monday lunchtime). Should I get it checked out? Any advice? Am I going to get sick?
Answers: OK. I went to a park on Friday and then the next day around noon I noticed I had a small kangaroo tick on my stomach. I removed it straight away, it came out nicely but then yesterday morning (sunday) I woke up with a really itchy stomach and it was like a mosquito bite. It is red and still itchy today (monday lunchtime). Should I get it checked out? Any advice? Am I going to get sick?
Chances are you've had a reaction to the saliva that they inject before feeding. This saliva has an anesthetic that prevents you from feeling the bite until the tick is firmly attached. It also contains anticoagulants that thin the blood to make it easier for them to drink it, and blood vessel dilators to increase blood flow, digestive enzymes are also present as are some disease organisms.
So yes the bite would be similar to a mosquito bite. For now, I'd apply an antibacterial cream and also hydrocortisone cream. Take some Benedryl as well for the reaction. If it doesn't start to feel better in a couple of days or you start to feel sick with flu-type like symptoms, pay a visit to the doc and have him draw some blood.