Tick Bites




Ticks are small, insect-like creatures that live in woods and fields. They attach to you as you brush past bushes, plants, and grass. Once on you, ticks often move to a warm, moist location, like the armpits, groin, and hair. At that point they typically attach firmly to your skin and begin to draw blood.

Ticks can be fairly large -- about the size of a pencil eraser -- or so small that they are almost impossible to see. Ticks can cause a variety of health conditions ranging from harmless to serious.

If you spend time outdoors or have pets that go outdoors, you need to beware of ticks. Ticks are small bloodsucking bugs. Some of the tick bite disease you can get from a tick bite are Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.

Some ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see. Ticks may get on you if you walk though areas where they live, such as tall grass, leaf litter or shrubs.

Tick borne diseases occur worldwide, including in your own backyard. To help protect yourself and your family, you should
  • Use a chemical repellent with DEET, permethrin or picaridin
  • Wear light-colored protective clothing
  • Tuck pant legs into socks
  • Avoid tick-infested areas
  • Check yourself, your children and your pets daily for ticks and carefully remove any ticks you find
Symptoms

While most ticks do not carry diseases, some ticks can cause Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, and tularemia. Watch for the symptoms of these diseases in the weeks following a tick bite -- muscle or joint aches, stiff neck, headache, weakness, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and other flu-like symptoms. Watch for a red spot or rash starting at the location of the bite. The tick itself can cause tick paralysis. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, weakness, incoordination, and spreading paralysis.

See your doctor if you develop: People should to be aware of the symptoms of tick borne diseases and take preventive measures to reduce the possibility of infection from ticks:
  • Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks more easily and prevent contact with the skin.
  • Always wear enclosed shoes.
  • Wear long pants tucked into socks, long-sleeved shirts tucked into pants.
  • Use an EPA-approved tick repellent. Read the manufacturer's directions and cautions before using. Wash off repellent when returning indoors.
  • Keep long hair pulled back. When gardening, pruning shrubs, or otherwise handling soil and vegetation, wear light-colored gloves, spot-checking them for ticks frequently.
  • Avoid sitting directly on the ground and stay on cleared, well-worn trails whenever possible.
  • Spot-check yourself and others frequently for ticks on clothes; if you find one, there may be others-check thoroughly.
  • Remove clothes after leaving tick-infested areas and, if possible, wash and dry them to eliminate any unseen ticks.
  • Conduct a full-body check of yourself, your children and any outdoor pets from head to toe for ticks each night before going to bed. Be sure to check the scalp, behind the head and neck, in the ears, and behind any joints.
  • If you find a tick, it should be removed with tweezers. Keep the tick in a vial labeled with the victim's name, location of bite site and the date. Be sure to watch the tick bite site and call your doctor if you notice any signs or symptoms of a tick borne illness.
Some ticks transmit bacteria that cause illnesses such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Your risk of contracting one of these diseases depends on what part of the United States you live in, how much time you spend in wooded areas and how well you protect yourself.

If you've received a tick bite:
  • Remove the tick promptly and carefully. Use tweezers to grasp the tick near its head or mouth and pull gently to remove the whole tick without crushing it.
  • If possible, seal the tick in a jar and keep it for a week or two. Your doctor may want to see the tick if you develop symptoms of illness after a tick bite.
  • Use soap and water to wash your hands and the area around the tick bite after handling the tick.
  • Call your doctor if you aren't able to completely remove the tick.
Prevention

Wear long pants and long sleeves when walking through heavy brush, tall grass, and densely wooded areas. Pull your socks over the outside of your pants to prevent ticks from crawling up inside. Keep your shirt tucked into your pants. Wear light-colored clothes so that ticks can be spotted easily. Spray your clothes with insect repellant. Check your clothes and skin frequently while in the woods.

After returning home, remove your clothes and thoroughly inspect all skin surface areas, including your scalp. Ticks can quickly climb up the length of your body. Some ticks are large and easy to locate. Other ticks can be quite small, so carefully evaluate all black or brown spots on the skin.

Information Obtained From National Institute Of Health
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