How to Identify and Remove Small Tick-Like Bugs That Bite Humans

Identifying Small Tick-Like Bugs

Ticks are small arachnids that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. Though ticks are commonly found in wooded and grassy areas, they can sometimes make their way indoors and bite humans. When trying to identify a small tick-like bug, it is important to check for key distinguishing features of ticks.

Size and Shape

Ticks vary in size depending on their age and what stage of development they are in. Adult ticks have oval-shaped bodies that become engorged with blood during feedings. Unfed adults tend to be under 1⁄4 inch in size. After feeding, a female tick can swell up to 3⁄4 inch as blood fills her body.

Nymphal (immature) ticks are even smaller, typically less than 2 mm in size. Nymphs and other baby ticks have a more rounded shape than adults. Regardless of age, all ticks have eight legs.

Color

Ticks can range in color including black, reddish-brown, light brown, or whitish-gray. The color can vary based on the tick's habitat and how engorged they are with blood. After feeding, ticks often appear more grayish or olive in color.

If you find a small, flattened, oval bug latching onto skin or crawling on surfaces, check if it matches the size, shape and coloring of common tick species in your area. Positive tick identification typically requires a magnifying glass or microscope.

How to Know If You've Been Bitten

It is not always easy to know if a tiny tick has bitten you. Tick bites are usually painless and can go unnoticed for hours or days. Many times a bite will only become apparent once the tick grows larger from gorging on blood. Here are some signs that may indicate you have been bitten by a tick:

Visible Tick Attached to Skin

The most obvious clue is spotting a tick burrowed into your skin. Look closely at common tick bite sites including the groin, armpits, scalp, and behind knees. Young nymphs can be extremely small and hard to detect. You may notice a small dark spot resembling a freckle or mole.

Skin Rash

A few days after a tick latches onto skin, a red bump or bullseye-shaped rash may emerge at the bite area. This kind of rash, called erythema migrans, expands slowly and can spread across several inches. However, not everyone will get this tell-tale rash.

Flu-like Symptoms

In some cases, people bitten by infected ticks develop flu-like issues including fever, chills, muscle aches, fatigue, stiff neck, or headaches. Symptoms like these tend to appear within the first month after being bitten by bacteria-carrying ticks.

Identify Tick Species

Knowing what species of tick bit you can offer clues about possible diseases. For example, dog ticks rarely transmit illnesses but deer ticks commonly spread Lyme disease through their saliva. When possible, capture the tick for identification after removing it.

How to Safely Remove an Embedded Tick

It is crucial to remove ticks as soon as possible to lower risk of infections. Use fine-tipped tweezers and wear gloves when handling live ticks. Avoid touching ticks with bare fingers.

Step-by-Step Tick Removal

Follow these steps to properly remove embedded ticks:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers and grasp the tick close to skin surface.
2. Pull upward slowly and steadily without twisting until the tick releases its bite. Take care not to squeeze the tick's body.
3. After removal, wash bite area and hands thoroughly with soap and water.
4. Save the tick in a plastic bag labeled with date and location of the bite.
5. Apply antiseptic cream to bite site to reduce risk of infection.

Avoid Other Removal Methods

There are many misconceptions about how to remove ticks. Avoid these ineffective and potentially dangerous techniques:

• Covering the tick with Vaseline, nail polish, alcohol, or gasoline.
• Burning the tick off with a lit match.
• Twisting or crushing the tick.

These forceful methods may cause the tick to release more pathogens into the bite wound as it dies. The goal is to remove the tick intact with as little agitation as possible.

When to See a Doctor After a Tick Bite

In most cases, tick bites heal quickly after proper removal. However, it is wise take precautions in monitoring symptoms for the next month or two. Contact your doctor if any of the following issues arise:

• The tick was embedded more than 24 hours before removal.
• A large red rash expands from bite area.
• Flu symptoms emerge including high fever, chills and body aches.
• Neurological problems arise like facial paralysis or tingling.

Let your doctor know you were recently bitten by a tick. Timely treatment for Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses leads to better recovery outcomes. Report any tick bites and exposure to wooded, brushy habitat where you might have picked up unwanted hitchhikers.

Testing Tick Specimens

Having the tick tested can determine if you were exposed to pathogens. Your doctor may send tick samples to a laboratory for analysis, targeting identification of common illnesses like:

• Lyme disease
• Anaplasmosis
• Ehrlichiosis
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Babesiosis
• Tularemia
• Tick-borne Relapsing Fever

Results usually take up to three weeks. Knowing the tick species and any transmitted diseases guides appropriate medical care.

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.