Warm weather on Long Island means ticks, even in your backyard. That’s an even greater concern this year with COVID-19 keeping people at home – and that means a greater risk for Lyme disease.
What Do Ticks Look Like?
Ticks can be as small as the head of a pin, which is what makes the blood-sucking, eight-legged insects so hard to detect. Even larger ticks are only as big as a pencil eraser. After feeding ticks can grow as large as a marble. Their color can range from various shades of brown to black or reddish brown.
Where Do Ticks Bite You?
Ticks tend to jump on your feet, legs, or arms because that is most accessible. However, they prefer moist, warm areas for feeding so they tend to migrate to the armpit, groin, hair, etc.
IF YOU FIND A TICK ON YOUR SKIN:
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Remove the tick
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Wear gloves. Use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull directly up. Don’t twist or jerk the tick. Sometimes the tick splits, leaving the mouth parts behind. If so, try to remove the mouth parts with tweezers as well.
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Save the tick in a container of alcohol
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That way if the doctor needs to see it for diagnosis, you have it
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Do not use a match or petroleum jelly
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While these home remedies can kill the tick, they can also have side effects such as causing the tick to regurgitate into the wound, causing an infection.
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Clean the wound
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Wash it with warm water and soap. Dab alcohol or disinfectant on the wound to avoid infection and cover the wound.
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See a healthcare professional
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They can determine if the tick transmitted any diseases or if there are any signs of infection.
What Does a Tick Bite Look Like?
Most of the time, a tick bite is tiny and goes unnoticed. If a person is allergic to tick bites or the tick transmitted a disease the bite location may look like this.
What Happens If You Get Bitten By a Tick?
Ticks are so small you rarely feel the bite. The two biggest problems with a tick bite are if you’re allergic or if the tick is carrying a disease, which is common.
SYMPTOMS OF A TICK BITE ALLERGY:
- Rash
- Pain or a burning sensation at the bite location
- Blisters
- Swelling
- Difficulty breathing
SYMPTOMS OF TICK-BORNE DISEASES INCLUDE:
- Headaches
- Stiff neck
- Nausea
- Rash or red spot near the bite location
- Full body rash
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle or joint pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
Do You Need Antibiotics After a Tick Bite?
Antibiotics are only given after a tick bite if an infection or Lyme disease is involved. For a normal tick bite, antibiotics are not needed. However, antibiotics can be effective treating Lyme disease so they will be prescribed in that case or if the bite became infected.
Arrow Can Help Prevent Ticks
Protect your family from ticks and Lyme disease by calling Arrow Exterminating to discuss tick control prevention and treatments. Call or contact us today and let the professionals at Arrow Exterminating handle it.
