How is a tick bite diagnosed?
No tests exist that either identify tick bites or the type of tick once the tick dislodges from the host’s body. However, doctors can examine the entire body, looking for ticks still attached, rashes, or signs of a tick-caused disease. If a tick is identified, the physician can better choose what additional tests should be done because some ticks are likely to transmit certain pathogens. Again, the Web citations below have photos of ticks that can help distinguish ticks from biting insects, such as fleas or bed bugs. Identification of the tick genus and species may help the physician determine what further tests may be scheduled. For example, blood tests for diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and tularemia are generally not positive for weeks after the exposure, even though symptoms may be present. Knowledge of the type of tick that caused the bite can help narrow the physician’s possible diagnoses and even allow the physician to proceed with ear
