Overview
Ticks are 8-legged creatures (arachnids) that sleep in wooded and grassy areas. Ticks attach themselves to a person's host because the person brushes past leaves, grass, etc – ticks don't jump or fall on an individual . Once on an individual , ticks move to a warm and moist location (eg, armpit, groin, back of the knee, hairline), where they burrow into the host's skin and feed off their blood.
While most ticks are harmless, some carry disease and should transmit illness (eg, Lyme disease , Rocky Mountain rickettsial disease , Colorado tick fever) to their host. Certain ticks can even inject venom that causes temporary paralysis in their host (called tick paralysis).
First Aid Guide
To remove an embedded tick:
1) Wash your hands.
2) Clean tweezers by boiling them or by pouring antiseptic solution (eg, isopropyl alcohol) over them.
3) With tweezers, grasp the tick as on the brink of its head or mouth as possible, and pull it straight out with a slow and steady motion. take care to not leave the top embedded within the skin, and confirm all parts of the tick are completely removed. Note: make certain to not twist the tick body as you pull it out.
4) Wash the world completely with soap and water.
After the tick has been completely removed, await approximately subsequent few weeks for signs of infection or illness, particularly if the tick was likely attached for over 24 hours. (See When to hunt medical aid .)
Prevention
The most important thing to think about regarding ticks is that prevention of tick bites is vital . While in wooded areas, tall grass, or brush, consider doing the following:
Ø Wear long trousers and long sleeves.
Ø Wear your socks over the surface of your pant legs.
Ø Tuck your shirt into your pants.
Ø Wear light-colored clothes in order that ticks can easily be spotted.
Ø Spray your clothes and exposed skin with insectifuge .
Ø Frequently check your clothes and skin for ticks.
It is important to get rid of a tick within 24 hours, if possible. Once home, remove your clothes and thoroughly inspect all skin surface areas. do not forget your scalp! As ticks are often quite small, carefully evaluate all black or brown spots on the skin.
Who's at risk?
People who add or spend time in wooded or grassy areas, particularly those that wear clothing that does not fully cover the body, like shorts and short-sleeved shirts, and people who don't wear insectifuge.
Signs and Symptoms
The tick itself are often quite small (almost impossible to see) or rather large (about the dimensions of a pencil eraser). Fully developed ticks have 8 legs, but they'll have only 6 visible legs early in its developmental stage. Ticks have alittle head as compared to their round body, which is typically covered by a tough , thick outer shell.
The site of the tick bite typically seems like alittle , reddish area which will or might not be raised, almost like a sting .
Within days, weeks, or maybe months, tick bites may develop as a bigger red ring (larger than 2 inches), often looking sort of a bull's-eye, indicating possible infection with Lyme disease (although the classic "bull's eye" lesion doesn't got to develop for a diagnosis of Lyme disease). In most cases, the infection is often eliminated with antibiotics, especially if treatment is started when symptoms are first noted.
Self-Care Guidelines
To remove an embedded tick:
1) With tweezers, grasp the tick as on the brink of its head or mouth as possible, and pull it straight out with a slow and steady motion. take care to not leave the top embedded within the skin, and confirm all parts of the tick are completely removed. Note: make certain to not twist the tick body as you pull it out.
2) Wash the world completely with soap and water.
After the tick has been completely removed, await approximately subsequent few weeks for signs of infection or illness, particularly if the tick was likely attached for over 24 hours. (See When to hunt medical aid .)
The most important thing to think about regarding ticks is that prevention of tick bites is vital . While in wooded areas, tall grass, or brush, consider doing the following:
Ø Wear long trousers and long sleeves.
Ø Wear your socks over the surface of your pant legs.
Ø Tuck your shirt into your pants.
Ø Wear light-colored clothes in order that ticks can easily be spotted.
Ø Spray your clothes and exposed skin with insectifuge .
Ø Frequently check your clothes and skin for ticks.
It is important to get rid of a tick within 24 hours, if possible. Once home, remove your clothes and thoroughly inspect all skin surface areas. do not forget your scalp! As ticks are often quite small, carefully evaluate all black or brown spots on the skin.
When to hunt medical aid
Seek emergency medical aid if the person is experiencing any of the following:
Ø Signs of paralysis (numbness, tingling, weakness, and incoordination)
Ø Severe headache
Ø Chest pain
Ø Heart palpitations
Ø Trouble breathing
Ø There are the other serious symptoms
Treatments Your Physician May Prescribe
If self-care measures were taken as detailed above but not all of the tick was successfully removed, a physician can remove the remaining portion of the tick.
Depending on the general situation, your physician may decide, after weighing the risks and benefits, to prescribe a course of antibiotic treatment like oral doxycycline.
Notice: Please consult your doctor before following any instruction of www.myonlinedoctor.co.in