Understanding Tick Bites: Identification, Removal & Disease Prevention

Understanding Ticks That Bite Humans

Ticks are small parasitic organisms that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. There are over 800 tick species around the world, but only a handful commonly bite and transmit diseases to humans. Ticks go through four life stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. After each feeding, they morph into the next stage.

Common Tick Appearance and Behavior

In the United States, the ticks that most frequently bite humans are the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), Lone Star tick (Amblyomma americanum), and the Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni). These species have some common features:

• Small (around 3-5 mm), oval-shaped bodies
• Eight legs at adult stage
• Reddish-brown, black, or brown coloring
• Prefer wooded, bushy environments
• Climb tall grass, brush, shrubs, and trees to wait for hosts
• Bite to insert barbed feeding tube under the skin
• Feed for several days until full and detached

Dangers of Tick Bites and Diseases

Ticks pose low risks to human health, as only certain kinds carry diseases. However, they can transmit serious illnesses, like:

• Lyme disease - Most common tick-borne disease. Caused by bacteria from the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Triggers fever, headache, fatigue and skin rash.
• Anaplasmosis - Caused by Anaplasma bacteria transmitted mostly from blacklegged tick bites. Symptoms are similar to Lyme disease.
• Ehrlichiosis - Bacterial illness caused by bites primarily from the lone star tick. Includes flu-like symptoms, nausea, muscle aches and confusion.
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever - Caused by Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria from American dog tick, brown dog tick and Rocky Mountain wood tick bites. Produces fever, headache, abdominal pain and rash.

While rare, tick bites can also trigger allergic reactions, infections, paralysis, neurological issues, and other problems. It's important to properly remove ticks and monitor bite sites.

How to Identify Tick Bites

Detecting tick bites quickly is crucial so prompt action can be taken if the tick may have transmitted disease. Ticks often go unnoticed since they have painless bites. Heres how to identify a tick bite:

Look for Clues a Tick Attached Itself

Examine your body closely after spending time outside where ticks reside, especially if you were in grassy, wooded spaces. Common tick bite locations include:

• Scalp
• Groin
• Armpits
• Behind the ears
• Back of knees
• Around the waist

Look for small grey, black, or brown bumps that appear to be a scab or skin tag. Feel for bumps firmly attached to the skin. Signs a tick was feeding include tick droppings or blood-tinged area.

Identify the Tick's Mouthparts

If you find a potential tick, examine it more closely. Use tweezers to gently pull up a corner. Look for distinguishing features like:

• Oval body (unfed nymphs and adults), or spherical body (engorged with blood)
• Eight legs
• Visible mouthparts/capitulum (feeding tube with barbs)
• Dark brown, black, reddish-brown, grey or tan coloring

Nymphs can be extremely tiny like poppy seeds. But their embedded mouths confirm tick bites. Remove safely then save the tick if Lyme disease testing is needed.

Identify Any Skin Changes

Assess your skin around the bite over the next days and weeks. Possible skin lesions indicating a tick-borne illness has been contracted include:

• Expanding red rash (especially with a bull's-eye shape)
• New red spotty rash
• Small bruises not caused by injury

Contact your doctor about concerning skin reactions, especially accompanied by viral symptoms. Be sure to notify them of recent tick exposure.

How to Care for Tick Bites

Proper tick removal decreases infection risks since mouthparts can break off under the skin. Never squeeze the tick's body. Instead, follow these steps using narrow fine-tipped tweezers:

1. Grasp the tick close to the skin without twisting.
2. Steadily pull straight up until its mouth lets go.
3. Take care not to squeeze its body as the tick is removed.
4. Check that the entire tick was removed, including the head/mouth.
5. Clean the bite area with soap and water or alcohol swab.

To contain the tick, place it in a sealed plastic bag or jar. Write down the date and location found for future reference. Proper tick removal also helps prevent infections.

Monitor for Signs of Illness

Watch for health impacts from possible tick-borne disease exposure after being bitten using this timeline:

• First 1-2 Days - Reddening around the bite site is normal. Allergic reactions cause severe swelling, welts, trouble breathing.
• 3-30 Days - Flu symptoms, rashes, joint pain could indicate Lyme disease is developing from a bite.
• Next Weeks/Months - If untreated, severe Lyme disease can cause facial palsy, headaches, heart issues.

Keep an eye on any bite for the next month. Mark your calendar to make notes about changes. Get medical help promptly if major warning signs appear.

Call a Doctor Under These Conditions

Consult a physician under these high-risk tick bite circumstances:

• Unable to fully remove tick mouthparts stuck under skin
• Bit by a known disease-carrying tick variety
• Multiple red expanding skin lesions around bite site
• Flu, rash or joint swelling in the week after bite
• Part of tick's body broke off during attempted removal
• Animal bite near where a tick was found

The sooner tick-borne illnesses are diagnosed and treated, the better. Calling a doctor also helps determine if preventative antibiotics could help prevent diseases transmitted from the bite.

Preventing Tick Bites and Disease

While no tick bite prevention methods are 100% effective, combining multiple strategies together when outdoors substantially lowers your risks. It's smart to take these tick safety precautions:

Avoid Areas Ticks Reside

The easiest way to not get bitten is avoiding known tick habitats by:

• Walking in the center of wooded trails
• Steering clear of tall brush and vegetation
• Choosing open, sunny lawns over shaded areas

Ticks wait on leaves and grass for hosts to pass by. Staying away from tick hot zones keeps them from latching onto you.

Wear Protective Clothing

Wearing long sleeves, pants tucked into socks,

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.