question about lyme and tick bites

[tylermom]

i was wondering if a tick has to stick on to you for it to cause lyme disease? in other words do ticks just bite and crawl away or do they bite and suction their head deep into your skin where you have to pull them off with tweezers?

 

jennifer

[lyme_mom]

i was wondering if a tick has to stick on to you for it to cause lyme disease? in other words do ticks just bite and crawl away or do they bite and suction their head deep into your skin where you have to pull them off with tweezers?

 

jennifer

Jennifer,

 

They do both I think. The longer they are attached the higher the risk that they can give you lyme disease. Some say you are safe if it is attached less than 24 hours but they really are not lining up patients to test this theory so I wouldn't count on this timeframe of "safety." I am sure it varies depending on how much bacteria the tick has in its gut, how good or deep it is at biting the victim, etc. When they bite you they numb you so you do not feel it. Many people never see the tick that gives them lyme disease.