Sobering Tick Talk

Ticks have gained nationwide infamy for spreading Lyme disease and the potentially fatal Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but that’s just the beginning of the horror story. As of this writing, there are 14 different tick-borne diseases plaguing various parts of the United States, and new ones keep popping up with disturbing frequency. The specific ailments, as well as the exact kinds of ticks that carry them, differ from one part of the country to another. But all of the infections have similar symptoms. Both the severity and the time of onset can vary, but these are the most common signs:

• Fatigue
• Fever and chills
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Muscle aches
• Rash

All tick-borne diseases are easily treated with antibiotics—but they can be very hard to diagnose. The key to fending off dangerous complications lies in fast action. If you’ve been bitten by a tick, and anywhere from a few days to several weeks later you experience any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor immediately!

The Ugly Truth About Ticks

Ticks suck blood from humans and every other kind of vertebrate. They can transmit serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, Colorado tick fever, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, to name just a few. So if you spot a tick burrowed into your skin—or your pet’s—get it outta there!

Conventional wisdom used to call for dabbing a tick with rubbing alcohol, oil, petroleum jelly, or some other substance before removing the foul thing. Well, forget all that. Now we know that such pretreatment only causes the varmint to regurgitate germs into the victim’s skin. Instead, follow this routine, whether you’re de-ticking a human or a pet:

Step 1: Grasp the tick’s head, as close to the skin as possible, with curved forceps or tweezers. (If you must use your fingers, cover them with several layers of tissue or a handkerchief or, better yet, wear latex gloves—never touch a tick with your bare hands!)

Step 2: Pull up with a smooth, steady motion. Jerking or twisting could cause pieces of the tick to break off and stay in the skin.

Step 3: Drop the tick into a container of rubbing alcohol, or flush it down the toilet. Don’t crush it; you could spread disease organisms that may be present in the body fluids.

Step 4: Disinfect the wound with rubbing alcohol, and wash your hands with soap and hot water.

Tick removal is not major surgery, but there are times when you need medical help. In any of the following instances, get to a doctor or veterinarian, pronto:

·        The tick’s body slides out, but the head stays behind. It may take a small incision to finish the job.

·        The victim starts showing signs of infection.

·        You know the culprit was a deer tick, and you live in Lyme disease country.

·        You experience any of these symptoms: fever, rash, stiff neck, or pain or swelling in your joints.