Some Basics...

• Ticks are small, brown insects that are found in wooded or grassy areas. They can attach to people. Ticks then suck and feed on a person’s blood. Ticks become swollen after they feed on blood. These are called “engorged ticks.” Ticks are easier to see and remove when engorged.
• A tick bite is painless and doesn't itch. Because of this, a person may not even notice a tick. A tick sucks a person’s blood until it is full. Then it falls off. This usually takes 3-6 days.
• Ticks can spread many diseases. These include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), and Colorado tick fever.

Type of Ticks

There are two main types of ticks: Wood Ticks and Deer Ticks.

• The Wood Tick: This is also called a dog tick. It is the size of a watermelon seed. It can sometimes spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever. The Lone Star tick is the same size and commonly spreads human monocytic ehrlichiosis. It also sometimes spreads Lyme disease.
• The Deer Tick: This is also called the black-legged tick. It is between the size of a poppy seed and an apple seed. It is the tick that most often spreads Lyme disease. A Southern form of Lyme disease can be spread by the Lone Star tick.

What is Lyme Disease?

• This has become the most common tick-borne illness in the United States. The risk of Lyme disease after a deer tick bite is about 1%.
• Most cases of Lyme disease start with a bull's eye rash at the site of the bite. The rash can appear days to weeks after a tick bite. This is often 7-10 days later. If a rash appears, antibiotics are needed. There may be flu-like symptoms with the rash. These include fever, chills, headaches, muscle aches, and fatigue.
• Getting the tick off right away will help prevent Lyme disease.

1. What You Should Know:
   • A tick bite is painless and does not itch. Because of this, a person may not even notice a tick. A tick sucks a person's blood until it is full. Then it falls off. This usually takes 3-6 days.
   • You can remove ticks and treat tick bites at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Wood Tick Removal:
   • Use a pair of tweezers. Grasp the wood tick on its head, close to the skin. Pull the wood tick straight upward without twisting or crushing it. Use a steady pressure until it releases its grip. This is the best method.
   • If you do not have tweezers, use your fingers, a loop of thread, or a needle for traction. Put one of these between the jaws of the tick.
   • Covering the tick with petroleum jelly, nail polish, or rubbing alcohol doesn't work. Neither does touching the tick with a hot or cold object.
3. Deer Tick Removal:
   • Deer ticks are very small. They are too small to remove with tweezers. They need to be scraped off. You can use a credit card edge or the edge of a knife blade.
   • Place tick in a sealed container. Your doctor may want to see it. You can use a glass jar or zip lock plastic bag.
4. Tick's Head Removal:
   • If the wood tick's head breaks off in the skin, it must be removed. Clean the skin. Then use a sterile needle to uncover the head. Lift it out or scrape it off.
   • If a very small piece of the head is still there, it will eventually fall off.
5. Antibiotic Ointment:
   • Wash the wound and your hands with soap and water after removal.
   • Put an over-the-counter (OTC) antibiotic ointment (like Bacitracin) on the bite 1 time.
6. What to Expect: Tick bites often do not itch or hurt. That is why you may not notice it.
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   • You can't remove the tick or the tick's head
   • Fever or rash in the next 2 weeks
   • Bite begins to look infected
   • You get worse

1. Prevention - General:
   • Prevention is important if you are hiking in tick-infested areas.
   • Wear long pants and a long shirt. Tuck your shirt into your pants. Tuck the cuffs of your pants into your socks or boots. Light-colored clothing is better because the ticks can be seen more easily.
   • Inspect your whole body and your clothing every couple hours. Ticks like to hide in your hair. Be certain to check your scalp, neck, armpits, and groin.
   • A shower at the end of a hike will help rinse off any tick that is not firmly attached.
   • Chance your clothes when your outdoor activities are done.
     
2. Prevention with Insect Repellent - DEET:
   • DEET is a very strong tick repellent. It also repels mosquitoes and other bugs.
   • Spray on exposed areas of skin. Do not put near your eyes, mouth, or any irritated skin. Do not put it on skin that is covered by clothing.
   • Always wash it off with soap and water when you return indoors.
   • DEET can damage clothing made of synthetic fibers, plastics, and leather.
   • Women that are breastfeeding may use DEET. No problems have been found.
   • Read all package instructions.
3. Prevention with Insect Repellent for Your Clothing - Permethrin:
   • Products with permethrin in them are very strong mosquito repellents. These include Duranon, Permanone, and Congo Creek Tick Spray. They also repel ticks.
   • An advantage to permethrin is that you put it on your clothes instead of your skin. Put it on your clothes before you wear them. You can also put it on other items like shoes, mosquito screens, and sleeping bags.
   • Do not put permethrin on your skin. It will not work if it is on your skin.
   • Read all package instructions.