Tick Bites

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.

Ticks     are small spiderlike insects (arachnids) that bite to fasten themselves onto the skin and feed on blood. Ticks live in the fur and feathers of many birds and animals. Tick bites occur most often during early spring to late summer and in areas where there are many wild animals and birds.

Tick Bite Symptoms
Lyme disease is now the most common tick-borne illness in the United States and throughout the world. It has been reported in all 48 continental states but is most common in the coastal mid Atlantic, the northern West Coast, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The hallmark target lesion, a red circular rash with a pale center, occurs at the site of the bite within 2-20 days after the bite in 60-80% of cases. The rash may be accompanied by fatigue, headache, joint aches, and other flulike symptoms.

Flu-like symptoms, such as headaches, stiff neck, muscle aches and fatigue may also be present. About half of all infected people never develop the rash, making it more difficult to diagnose the illness.

Causes of Tick Bites

The cause of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the organism Rickettsia rickettsii. This bacterium most often is spread to humans by tick bites. Ticks can attach themselves to your skin and feed on your blood. They can lodge anywhere on your body, but often are found in your hair, around your ankles and in your genital area. Once embedded in your skin, ticks can cause a small, hard, itchy lump surrounded by a red ring or halo.

Prevention Of Tick Bites

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.

Treatments of Tick Bites

Avoid tick habitats: Whenever possible, avoid entering areas that are likely to be infested with ticks, particularly in spring and summer when nymphal ticks feed. Ticks favor a moist, shaded environment, especially areas with leaf litter and low-lying vegetation in wooded, brushy or overgrown grassy habitat. Both deer and rodent hosts must be abundant to maintain the enzootic cycle of B. burgdorferi.

Use fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick. If you don't have tweezers, put on gloves or cover your hands with tissue paper, then use your fingers. Do not handle the tick with bare hands.

Seek medical care if you notice a large skin rash or swelling around the sting site, or if swelling or pain persists for more than 3 days, which could indicate an infection.

The best thing to do is to prevent Lyme disease. You can prevent Lyme disease by preventing tick bites. Ticks are out in full force in the U.S. in May, June, and July so pay special attention when going outdoors during these months. To prevent tick bites use insect repellants with 20%-30% DEET on adults and 10% DEET on children, wear long pants, sleeves, and socks.