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Tick Bite
Ticks are normally associated with dogs and other pets, but if you are a hiker or live in a wooded area, you know that ticks can also affect humans. A tick bite is normally not something to worry about, but there are instances where this bite can cause significant health concerns. Let's first, talk more about the tick itself. What is a tick?
A tick bite can be a serious thing, so be sure to check yourself and your pets when you've been in "tick country". When you find a tick attached to you gently remove it and wash the area with soap and water. Look for reactions and have them examined by a doctor if they appear.
A tick is a small, blood-sucking mite (in the arachnid -- spider -- family) that is found in your yard, fields, and in the woods. Ticks are difficult to see and they can get on you when you simply walk through tall grass, shrubs, or in a wooded area. They attach themselves when you contact them; they don't jump or fly.
Most often ticks attach themselves to you in dark, warm, moist areas -- arm pits, the back of knees, underwear and bra lines, and in your hair or at your hairline. Be sure to do a tick check after hiking during "tick season" -- late spring and early summer, before it gets too hot.
A tick bite is not normally noticed unless you see the body of the tick on your pets or yourself. When ticks bite, they fasten themselves to the skin and suck your blood. This is not harmful to you, but it can cause problems if the tick carries diseases which are injected with a toxin. It's important to remove the tick as soon as you notice it. So how do you remove a tick?
There are many old wives tales floating around about how to best remove a tick.These include smothering it with peanut butter or oil, like Vaseline or applying heat to its backside. The problem with these approaches is that you can kill the tick and that can allow the toxins in its stomach to be released back into your body. Not a good idea.
But most physicians and health care providers recommend using fine-tipped tweezers to remove a tick. If you do not have tweezers, your fingers covered with gloves or tissue paper can be used. Grab the tick as close to its mouth as possible and pull the tick gently until it lets go of your skin. Don't screw or twist the tick, because this can leave the head in your body, and that can cause an infection. You also want to refrain from grabbing the tick around its belly, as this can cause fluid from their body to be released back into your body, causing further problems. After the tick is removed, keep the tick in a jar with rubbing alcohol, in cause you need it for identification, and clean the area with soap and warm water.
What are some of the risks of a tick bite? For the most part, ticks do not cause health problems, but there are times when they do. Some of the health problems that are associated with a tick bite include infection, Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, and various other diseases. It is important to have the following symptoms evaluated after a tick bite to ensure that you get medical help as soon as possible. Some of the symptoms that you will want to have evaluated include:
- Flu-like symptoms
- Rash or sores
- Signs of infection to the area bitten
Tick bites normally only cause minor symptoms, including minor pain and swelling that can be alleviated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen but if you find that your symptoms are worsening or are not easing, then you need to visit your health care provider. By paying attention to your body and to your symptoms, you can keep yourself and your family healthier for years to come.
