A tick's mouth has pointed barbs that are designed to penetrate and help it
attach to skin, and then the ticks secrete a gluey substance that helps them
stick to whoever or whatever they’ve bitten. If you find out that you or your
pet has been bitten by a tick, it’s important to remove it correctly. Just
follow the steps outlined below:
Use fine-pointed tweezers to carefully take hold of the tick near its
head, as close to the skin of the bitten person or animal as possible.
Very slowly and gently pull the tick straight out.
Drop the tick into a small jar and label it with the victim's name and the
date.
Disinfect the area of the bite with a commercial disinfectant or alcohol.
Wash your hands, and clean and disinfect the tweezers.
Mark your calendar with the victim's name and the place of the tick bite.
Call your doctor to determine if treatment is warranted.
Watch the area of the tick bite, and the victim for the symptoms of Lyme Disease.
What are the symptoms?
The most physical characteristic of Lyme Disease is the characteristic
"bull's-eye" rash found around the bitten area. Other characteristic
symptoms of the disease are fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and a
general malaise, as well as joint pain. Many victims mistakenly believe that
they are suffering from a bout of the flu before finding out it’s Lyme Disease.
How common is it?
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that there have been as many as 2.5
million cases of Lyme disease in the U.S.
since 1980.
Summary
When it comes to Lyme Disease, remember that a little prevention can go a
long way. Taking the precautions mentioned earlier can help you enjoy the
outdoors without putting your health, or the health of your loved ones and
pets, at risk.