All You Need to Know About Tick-Borne Diseases

Ticks are small, blood-sucking insects and they vary from size as tiny as a pinhead to as large as a pencil eraser. They belong to the arachnid family, which is why they have resemblance with the spiders. Different ticks have different colors; from shades of brown to reddish brown and black.

Ticks are common in the United States, and they live outdoors except when they find a suitable host that may coincidentally bring them inside the house. Tick thrives in grass, shrubs, trees, and leaf piles. They are attracted to people, dogs, cats and other four-legged pets, and they can effortlessly move from one host to another.

Furthermore, tick bites are painless, and they do not carry noticeable symptoms. Nonetheless, they can cause allergic reactions, and some ticks can deposit diseases to humans and pets when they bite. The diseases are sometimes dangerous and even deadly.

Ticks transform from a tiny critter to as big as marble as they suck more blood from their hosts. The color turns from a brownish red to a greenish-blue color as they feed on its host for days.

Furthermore, tick prefers to feed in warm and moist parts of the body; they are likely to migrate to the groin, hair or armpit once they get on the body. Tick remains attached to your body after they bite, and they fall off after ten days.

Symptoms of a tick bite

Generally, tick bites are harmless and produce no signs except if the person is allergic to tick bites. In that case, they may experience

• Difficulty breathing
• A burning sensation at the bite area
• Pain or swelling at the bite site
• Blisters
• A rash

In addition, some ticks carry diseases that can be transferred on when they bite. Tick-borne diseases cause a variety of symptoms and mostly develop within several days after a tick bite. The common symptoms of tick-borne diseases include:

• Headaches
• Nausea
• Full body rash
• Neck stiffness
• A rash near the bite area
• Weakness
• Fever
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Joint or muscle pain

It is advisable to seek medical attention as soon as you notice the bite, also take the tick to the doctor for evaluation. Ticks are capable of transmitting dangerous diseases, and the tick-borne disease begins to occur within a few days after the bite. If you do not have symptoms, still visit the doctor to clarify all doubts.

Some diseases anybody can contract through a tick bite are Colorado tick fever, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Tularemia

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) needs to be treated as soon as possible. Also, it is advisable to treat Lyme disease even before the host starts experiencing the symptoms. If you begin to experience unusual symptoms such as rash, fever, or joint pain after a tick bite, it is vital you see your doctor right away. The doctor will perform a series of tests to determine if the symptoms are the result of a tick-borne disease.

It is cheaper and healthier to prevent ticks from infesting your lawn, or home than to for treatment. There are several ways you can prevent ticks from your environment, and one of the ways is hiring a pest control operator near you.