Ticks are likely to be familiar to you if you reside outside of a city, among fields, forests, and nature in general (depending on the country you call home).
Indeed, the blood of mammals, birds, and pretty much everything else their little suckers can get their hands on is the ultimate food source for those annoying little arachnids. Ticks do pose a number of serious problems, even while that doesn’t seem all that hazardous on the surface (no human will ever die from blood loss from a tick bite).
You’ve probably heard about the diseases that ticks can carry and how humans can contract them by being bitten by them. These include babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease, among others.
Even though you may not be aware of these illnesses, believe me when I say that you would be better off without them. Naturally, the best method to deal with them is to take care to never have them in the first place. If left untreated, they can have major, life-altering effects.
Following all the correct procedures when it comes to ticks is a very clear method to reduce your risks. Although you cannot completely prevent them, you can take precautions to reduce the likelihood of getting bitten, which lowers your risk of getting one of the diseases described above.
What should you do, then, if you discover that a tick has attached itself to you?
The first step is to swiftly and carefully remove it. The tick’s body may separate from its head if you attempt to remove it with your finger and thumb, leaving the latter in your skin. Instead, hold the tick as near to your skin as you can using tweezers or fine-tipped forceps, then gently draw it free in a single, continuous motion.
The tick may vomit its contents into the wound if you crush or twist it.
This brings us to the following section: appropriately getting rid of the tick. Although it may seem as simple as dumping it in the garbage, there are really things you can do to make sure that the specific tick you’ve found won’t ever feed on blood again, whether it be human or not.
To avoid future interaction with people or animals, it is preferable to keep the tick in a sealed bag or container. As an alternative, you can flush it down the toilet after wrapping it in tissue paper.
If you find a tick on your pet, keep in mind that some vets might advise you to bring it to the clinic for identification and additional evaluation. Therefore, it would be wise to store it in a sealed container or bag after all.
Pets and ticks
If you have pets, you probably already check for ticks on a regular basis, but it can’t hurt to be reminded of how crucial it is. Although they can withstand frigid temperatures, ticks are frequently more active during warmer months, so make sure to conduct these inspections on a regular basis all year long.
Examine your pet by combing through the fur thoroughly and feeling for any small, firm bumps on the skin in places like the ears, armpits, skin folds, toes, and crotch.
Keep in mind that keeping your pet free of ticks also helps you and your house stay free of ticks. Therefore, it’s definitely worthwhile!
If someone has bitten you
You should be aware of several signs if you think you may have been bitten by a tick. Flu-like symptoms, joint discomfort, and muscle aches can all be early indicators of Lyme disease.
In other instances, a red, bullseye-shaped rash may appear at the bite site, suggesting a potential infection. Fever, chills, and exhaustion are some of the signs of some other tick-borne illnesses, so be especially alert if you have any of these following a tick bite.
