Ticks are small, incapable of running, and are not even good at jumping. But, they are excellent at waiting patiently on a blade of grass until someone or something brushes past, and then they simply walk onto the person or animal.
Ticks will then locate a spot where a blood vessel is near the surface and latch on. You should never simply pull a tick off as they are likely to leave part of their body behind. This will cause an infection. If you have a large number of ticks in your area, especially in your yard, it is a good idea to contact your local pest control specialist.
Don’t forget, ticks carry diseases and can make you seriously ill.
The Lone Star Tick
Most people have heard of Lyme disease and the fact that it can be transmitted by ticks. However, it is not carried by the Lone Star tick, a bite from one of these will not give you Lyme disease. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean the Lone Star tick is harmless.
The Lone Star tick will often give you a circular rash that looks very similar to the one you get when you contract Lyme disease. However, the bacteria behind this rash is different, Lone Star ticks are more likely to transmit STARI to you.
STARI or Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness, causes a rash, extreme tiredness, headaches, muscle pains, and fever. The good news is that the symptoms can be eliminated with a standard oral antibiotic. However, at this stage, the bacteria behind STARI remains unknown.
Of course, all ticks can be dangerous, that’s why you should always contact your local pest control experts to eradicate any infestation you find in your yard. You can learn more here about your local expert and the ticks.
Dealing With A Tick Bite
At the time you have been bitten you probably won’t realize it and certainly won’t know what type of tick it is. That is why you should always visually inspect your skin after being in the long grass.
If you detect a tick you should remove it with tweezers or a special tick removal tool. This ensures you grab the very base of the tick and pull the whole thing out. If you leave any part of it in you it can become infected and still spread disease.
Because it can be difficult to identify which tick you have been bitten by when you remove a tick you should keep it in a sealed container. This may be of assistance if you need to seek medical help.
You should monitor the area around a tick bite and your general health. If within 30 days of the bite, a rash appears and you start to feel tired or feverish, it is time to visit your medical professional and show them the tick that bit you.
They will then be able to prescribe the right course of treatment and put your mind at rest.
