Deer Ticks
Everything you need to know about deer ticks was afraid to ask.

Deer Tick Symptoms

Although the symptoms vary deer tick bites are generally painless in fact you may never even see the tick that bites you because there usually as small as the period at the end of this sentence.  After being bitten most of the symptoms usually occur after the tick that bites you drops off.  These symptoms include itching and burning and usually the area where the tick bites you becomes slightly red. Rarely is there any kind of pain associated with the tick bite.  One of the worst things about tick bite is the symptoms usually don't begin to appear for two weeks after the tick has bitten you.  That's why doctors have such a hard time diagnosing the illness.  In most instances the symptoms are the same as if you had a flu and can include fever, little rash, confusion some pain and swelling in your joints, your heart may feel like it's palpitating with some shortness of breath and sometimes nausea and vomiting.

It's recommended if you do find a tick on you that you go ahead and seek medical advice as quickly as possible since doing this will alert your doctor that you are a candidate for Lyme disease.  Another problem is that blood test are generally not positive for weeks after your exposed to the bite even though you may be experiencing all the symptoms of  Lyme disease.

One of the biggest problems occurs when people go ahead and try to remove the tick themselves.  When you aggravate the tick by trying to remove it there is a chance that they may be stimulated to spit out even small amounts of there blood meal that they have in them. Once they do this there is a chance that they could pass the infected saliva back into you.  Another problem occurs when people try to remove the tick improperly and leave the head or mouthparts attached. 

They say the best way to remove the tick is to use a small pair of curved forceps or tweezers.  It's a good idea to wear gloves to prevent any spread of bacteria from the tick to your hands. When you use  tweezers carefully flip the tick over onto its back and grasp the tick firmly with the tweezers as close to your skin as possible and then gently pull until the tick becomes free. Also remember never to twist or turn the tweezers since this could easily result in the head popping off.  Another good idea after you move the tick is to go ahead and keep it in a glass jar if later on down the road you experience some symptoms of deer tick fever or Lyme disease you can take the tick to the doctor.  If after removing the tick it appears that the head of any of the mouthparts remain behind  you need to go to your doctor as quickly as possible.

It's also recommended that you clean the area with soap and water or a mild disinfectant.  Keep an eye on the area for several days to see if any kind of rash or signs of infection develop.  You can also applies antiseptic cream to the area to help prevent a local infection but  remember that this does not affect the diseases that were transmitted by the tick.

If you do develop Rocky Mount spotted fever or Lyme disease there are several different types of treatments that your doctor may prescribe including oral antibiotics IV and maybe even hospitalization.

The best way to prevent Lyme disease is to do your best to keep the ticks off you in the first place.  Ticks are known to live in  grassy areas and shrubs and they thrive in the months of May through September.  Wearing light-colored clothing can help you to easily spot the ticks on you. You can also tuck your pants into your boots or socks and remember to apply insect repellent.

There is also an immunization shot available now for Lyme disease but is not currently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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