Save yourself from Ticks

Ticks are tiny parasites, one of the types of spiders. Some are about the size of a sesame seed. They feed on blood and live in tall grass and wooded areas. Ticks can attach to any part of the body.

ticks The two famous types of ticks are:

Black-legged tick (formerly called the deer tick)
The American dog tick.

Diseases transmitted by Ticks:

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF): This is a bacterial infection. Most cases of spotted fever occur in the southern United States. RMSF occurs most commonly in areas where ticks and wild animals are abundant. Usually appear 3-12 days after tick contact. A spotted rash usually develops on the wrists and ankles on the second or third day of fever.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by the Blacklegged tick that can cause serious problems involving the heart, joints, and nervous system. Research in the eastern United States indicates that ticks are most likely to transmit Lyme disease to people during the nymphal stage after two or more days of feeding. This includes a "bulls-eye" rash or ring-like rash developing 3 to 32 days after a tick bite. Other symptoms are fever, headache, muscle and joint aches, significant fatigue, facial paralysis and cardiac arrhythmias. Do consult your doctor whenever you discover the symptoms.

General symptoms of tick related diseases:

Fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, fatigue or weakness of the muscles of the face.
Skin rash, especially one that looks like a bull's eye.
Paralysis may also occur.

How to remove ticks once identified:

Use tweezers to gently get a hold of the tick as close to its mouth as possible.

Don't touch the tick with your hands. Wear latex gloves.
Do not squeeze the tick because this can force its stomach contents into the wound and increase the chance of an infection.
Do not jerk, unscrew or twist.
Once the tick has been removed, clean the bite area with soap and water. Also use antibiotic ointment on the affected area.

How to prevent the exposure to Ticks: