Ticks
Second only to mosquitoes, Ticks are among the leading carriers of diseases to humans in the United States. Tick’s saliva contains toxins that they transmit through the bite that cause disease. With more than 800 species throughout the world, Ticks are responsible for carrying such diseases as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease, Tularemia, and many others.
Ticks normally hang out in low brush or grassy areas waiting for a host to feast upon. The sneaky part about the Tick is the toxin it releases into your skin upon biting you disallows you to feel the bite and therefore usually the suspect is completely unaware of its attachment.
I’ve had multiple queries concerning Ticks and Tick bites so far this spring and I wanted to write an article detailing what I’ve learned about these cumbersome arthropods. Insofar as symptoms as concerned, as I mentioned earlier, most often a person will not feel the bite itself and therefore localized pain is rare. A victim of a Tick bite may experience these symptoms; flu-like symptoms, fever, numbness, rash, confusion, weakness, pain and swelling of the joints, palpitations, nausea and vomiting. So the question becomes “when do I see a doctor?” According to my research, a doctor should be seen if the person bitten exhibits weakness, confusion, fever, numbness, headache or rash. A doctor should also be seen if the person bitten is unable to remove the tick or any significant amount of the head or mouthparts from the skin. Remember, Ticks are second only to mosquitoes in carrying disease to humans.
Caution and careful attention should be exercised when removing a Tick. Although this process may seem intuitive, it is important to use the proper technique to avoid leaving behind any of the tick’s body parts in the skin. The first step is to use a small pair of tweezers and if possible, wear gloves so as not to transfer any of the bacteria from the tick to your hands. Using the tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull until the tick comes free. Flush the tick down the toilet or sink drain; do not crush it as this will spread bacteria. The next step is to check the bite area to be sure the head and mouthparts are fully removed. Thoroughly rinse the bite area with soap and water or a mild disinfectant. And also wash hands! It is important to observe the area for several days for the development of any reactions. Again, if any of the symptoms mentioned above occur, visit your doctor for treatment.
The best way to combat a Tick bite is to prevent it. Avoid grassy areas and shrubs where ticks hide. Wear light colored clothing so ticks are more easily spotted. Tuck your pants into your boots or socks. Apply insect repellant, specifically the brands designed to repel ticks. If grassy areas are unavoidable be sure to check yourself thoroughly after exposure.
To summarize, spring, summer and fall are great seasons to be outdoors but the game plan is to exercise some minor precautions along the way. If you are outdoors, take the proper precautions to prevent tick bites and check yourself after exposure to grassy or wooded areas. If you do get bitten, remove the tick properly and keep a watch on the bite area. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned earlier contact your doctor. These are a few easy steps to handling Tick season.
As always, if there are any questions related to this article or any other health related topic we are happy to help at Seven Lakes Prescription Shoppe, Inc. Thank you for taking the time to read and thank you for your continued support.
Trey Waters, Pharm.D., RPh
Reference: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/ticks/article_em.htm
Ticks normally hang out in low brush or grassy areas waiting for a host to feast upon. The sneaky part about the Tick is the toxin it releases into your skin upon biting you disallows you to feel the bite and therefore usually the suspect is completely unaware of its attachment.
I’ve had multiple queries concerning Ticks and Tick bites so far this spring and I wanted to write an article detailing what I’ve learned about these cumbersome arthropods. Insofar as symptoms as concerned, as I mentioned earlier, most often a person will not feel the bite itself and therefore localized pain is rare. A victim of a Tick bite may experience these symptoms; flu-like symptoms, fever, numbness, rash, confusion, weakness, pain and swelling of the joints, palpitations, nausea and vomiting. So the question becomes “when do I see a doctor?” According to my research, a doctor should be seen if the person bitten exhibits weakness, confusion, fever, numbness, headache or rash. A doctor should also be seen if the person bitten is unable to remove the tick or any significant amount of the head or mouthparts from the skin. Remember, Ticks are second only to mosquitoes in carrying disease to humans.
Caution and careful attention should be exercised when removing a Tick. Although this process may seem intuitive, it is important to use the proper technique to avoid leaving behind any of the tick’s body parts in the skin. The first step is to use a small pair of tweezers and if possible, wear gloves so as not to transfer any of the bacteria from the tick to your hands. Using the tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and gently pull until the tick comes free. Flush the tick down the toilet or sink drain; do not crush it as this will spread bacteria. The next step is to check the bite area to be sure the head and mouthparts are fully removed. Thoroughly rinse the bite area with soap and water or a mild disinfectant. And also wash hands! It is important to observe the area for several days for the development of any reactions. Again, if any of the symptoms mentioned above occur, visit your doctor for treatment.
The best way to combat a Tick bite is to prevent it. Avoid grassy areas and shrubs where ticks hide. Wear light colored clothing so ticks are more easily spotted. Tuck your pants into your boots or socks. Apply insect repellant, specifically the brands designed to repel ticks. If grassy areas are unavoidable be sure to check yourself thoroughly after exposure.
To summarize, spring, summer and fall are great seasons to be outdoors but the game plan is to exercise some minor precautions along the way. If you are outdoors, take the proper precautions to prevent tick bites and check yourself after exposure to grassy or wooded areas. If you do get bitten, remove the tick properly and keep a watch on the bite area. If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned earlier contact your doctor. These are a few easy steps to handling Tick season.
As always, if there are any questions related to this article or any other health related topic we are happy to help at Seven Lakes Prescription Shoppe, Inc. Thank you for taking the time to read and thank you for your continued support.
Trey Waters, Pharm.D., RPh
Reference: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/ticks/article_em.htm
