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What Causes Heart Palpitations After Bitten By An Insect?
Posted on
Sun, 17 Apr 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 17 Apr 2016
Answered on
Thu, 9 Jun 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : hello doctor in 2010 i was bit by an insect in my sacrum. The insect attached to my skin but eventually i was able to get it off. However the insect left behind crawly creatures that feels that little worms in my skin intestine and probably every other organ in my body. I could sometime feel them in my heart and i would have palpitations regularly. The palpitations was so sever i almost ended up in the hospital. i initial though that a tick had bitten me and that I had babesia. what are some of your thoughts and recommendations.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would recommend consulting with an infectious disease specialist for a careful physical exam of your skin (in the bite region) and perform further investigations to establish the possible type of infection.
I would explain that your cardiac symptoms could be related to different infections caused by tick bites:
- ehrlichiosis
- Lyme disease, etc..
I would recommend performing some blood tests to search for possible antigens or antibodies against these infectious agents.
Besides,it is important investigating for the nature of your cardiac palpitations (just ectopic heart beats or cardiac arrhythmia) and other possible non-infectious causes that may lead to this symptomatology (like cardiac disorders, thyroid dysfunction, electrolytes imbalances, chronic anemia, etc.).
For this purpose it is important performing:
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm during the day
- a cardiac ultrasound
- blood lab tests (complete blood count, blood electrolytes, thyroid hormone levels).
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would recommend consulting with an infectious disease specialist for a careful physical exam of your skin (in the bite region) and perform further investigations to establish the possible type of infection.
I would explain that your cardiac symptoms could be related to different infections caused by tick bites:
- ehrlichiosis
- Lyme disease, etc..
I would recommend performing some blood tests to search for possible antigens or antibodies against these infectious agents.
Besides,it is important investigating for the nature of your cardiac palpitations (just ectopic heart beats or cardiac arrhythmia) and other possible non-infectious causes that may lead to this symptomatology (like cardiac disorders, thyroid dysfunction, electrolytes imbalances, chronic anemia, etc.).
For this purpose it is important performing:
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring to examine your heart rhythm during the day
- a cardiac ultrasound
- blood lab tests (complete blood count, blood electrolytes, thyroid hormone levels).
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope to have been helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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