Protecting your family and pets from ticks is so important. These tiny parasitic hitchhikers can be a walking health hazard.
In certain parts of the United States, ticks are prevalent year-round, but diseases from ticks like Powassan and Lyme are more likely to strike in the spring and summer months.
Maintaining a tidy yard, long grass, and organic landscaping can keep ticks from your lawn but ticks are also common inhabitants of crawlspaces and basements, so it’s also imperative to pay attention to the insides of your home.
These steps for controlling ticks around your home are a must for any homeowner.
What Are Ticks?
Ticks are small arachnids that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. Ticks are vectors of some diseases, most Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and tick-borne encephalitis. In the United States, Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease, with an estimated 30,000 cases per year.
The Best Way to Prevent Diseases From Ticks
The best way to prevent diseases from ticks is to avoid contact with them. When walking in wooded or grassy areas, wear long pants and socks to prevent ticks from attaching to your skin. Use an insect repellent that contains DEET on exposed skin.
After being outside, check your body for ticks. Use tweezers to get rid of any ticks you detect. Consult a doctor if you get a fever, rash, or other symptoms after being bitten by a tick.
A residential tick control services can also be a great help in eliminating and preventing disease from ticks.
How to Remove a Tick
There’s no need to freak out if you discover a tick on your body. You can remove the tick and lower your chance of contracting diseases transmitted by ticks by following a few easy procedures. The tick should be grasped with a pair of fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin’s surface as workable.
Without squeezing or twisting it, pull the tick straight out. After the tick has gone through elimination, wash the area with soap and water. An alcohol-based cleanser can also be used to disinfect the area.
Wash your hands immediately after handling the tick. Consult a physician if you experience a rash or fever a few weeks after removing a tick. You might have contracted a disease spread by ticks.
When to See a Doctor After a Tick Bite
If a tick is found on the body, it is important to remove it and watch for any signs of illness. If a rash or fever develops, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Ticks’ Risks and the Diseases They Can Spread
Ticks and the diseases they can send pose some risks. Humans can contract several diseases from ticks, including tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease.
Fever, rash, and exhaustion are a few of the symptoms that these tick-borne illnesses can produce. These illnesses have fatal outcomes.
The best way to protect yourself and your family from tickborne diseases is to avoid contact with ticks and to remove them if you find them. Take preventative measures to avoid being bitten by ticks, such as applying insect repellent and donning long sleeves. It’s crucial to get rid of any ticks you locate on your body and clean the region.
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