Ticks are small arachnid parasites that survive by hematofagia (diet with blood) of various birds and mammals, including humans. They are vectors (carriers and transmitters of infectious pathogens in another living organism) of many serious diseases including Lyme disease, tularemia, typhoid etc.
Ticks do not jump, do not fly, nor fall from the trees. They are well hidden in low plants, where they await their future host. When the host comes into contact with the plant, tick attaches and begins crawling over the body until they find a suitable place to feed.
The danger to humans from infected tick bite is the possibility of transmission of the pathogen and development of infection. The transmission of infection from the tick to the host does not occur immediately after the hook, but during the process of diet (blood sucking), which usually begins a few hours after attaching. It is therefore very important after an activity in nature, to do a complete check of the body and if you find any attached tick, remove it as soon as possible.
How to properly check the body for ticks?
Depending on which stage of the life cycle are found, ticks can be of different sizes – from the size of a poppy seed to the size of an apple seed. Therefore, in order to achieve maximum efficiency, you must be extremely thorough and careful.
- Select a suitable place. Select an intimate room (bathroom, bedroom) where you will be free to perform the check.
- Remove all clothes. It is necessary to check the whole body without exception, including the intimate parts. Therefore, you need to fully take off everything.
- Start with the head. Cross your fingers across the surface of the head. If you feel a slight touch projection, see whether it is a tick.
- Comb. Even if the tick is attached to the scalp, there is an opportunity to find it in your hair. Therefore, take a comb with fine teeth and comb thoroughly.
- Check the body. From top to bottom thoroughly inspect the body if somewhere has a small, round black or brown bulging of the skin, which would constitute the body of the tick. Pay particular attention to the shins, because ticks often attach themselves to that place. It is necessary to search as the front and back of the body, so it is best to check it in front of a mirror or with the help of a close person.
- Check the less visible places. Ticks attach to the regions of the body where it is warm, so you are often going to find them in less visible places such as:
- underarms;
- around and behind the ears;
- in the navel;
- in the popliteal region (behind the knee);
- the groin;
- below the chest.
- After you finish with the check, take a good shower.
How to properly remove ticks from the body?
Removing the tick from the body significantly helps in preventing various diseases which are transmitted by a tick bite, especially if it is done within the first 24 hours after the sting.
The best is the procedure to be conducted by a medical practitioner, but if this is not possible, the following tips will help you to properly remove the tick from the body.
Step 1: Use tweezers with pointed tips
Ordinary tweezers are not appropriate for removing the tick, especially if it is a small size because of the danger of hurting yourself.
If during the removal, the body of the tick is crushed, it is possible to infect yourself (if the tick is infected).
Step 2: Insert the tweezers close to the head of the tick
To remove it the right way, the tweezers should be placed on the head of the tick.
In no case do not put your tweezers in the area of the body of the tick, because in the removal process, under the influence of pressure, you can crush it.
Step 3: Gently remove the tick
After loading the tweezers, with a slow, quiet and precise movement, drag upward until the tick is fully separated from the skin.
NOTE: Do not remove the tick with circular movements. That way you can detach only the body of the tick and the head will stay inside the skin.
Step 4: Disinfect the site of the sting
Once you remove the tick, with antiseptic or soap and water, clean the site of the sting.
Step 5: After the procedure, wash your hands well
After removal, you can put the tick in a sealed container if you are able to do tests to determine if the tick is a carrier of infection or not.
NOTE: Do not attempt to remove the tick by burning or placing various chemicals. This may cause the release of fluid from tick transmission of infection in the body.
Despite the removal of the tick, visit your doctor. It is necessary to make appropriate laboratory tests and, if the infection has been transmitted, to give you timely treatment.
Source : www.webmd.com
