Tick ​​Bite What To Do And What Not To Do

The tick bite is a common occurrence, especially in summer and in countryside or mountain places. Once you notice the presence of this particular arachnid it is good to follow a series of precautions and avoid “do it yourself” remedies. It should also be taken into consideration that some diseases that can be transmitted by ticks can also occur after some time from the bite. Remove them permanently with Melbourne Clean Masters.

What is it and what are the consequences of the tick bite

The tick is a tiny parasite whose size ranges from a few millimeters in the juvenile stages up to one centimeter in the adult stage.

They are blood-sucking parasites of many animals and humans and the best-known species are the wood tick and the dog tick. The tick bite can be a common occurrence as the habitat of these parasites includes numerous environments habitually frequented by men such as gardens, bushes, and woodlands.

By itself, the tick bite creates no danger to human health, other than a slight discomfort at the site of the bite. However, what could be problematic is any infection that could arise at the site if the skin is not properly disinfected.

The pathologies that can follow a tick bite range from local infections (more or less severe) to tick-borne encephalitis, rickettsiosis, tularemia, and Lyme disease.

Furthermore, since ticks are in continuous contact with the ground, there may be the possibility that through their bite they carry the tetanus spores into the body.

Once the tick has inserted its rostrum into the skin, its characteristic is to deepen it more and more in the subcutis as time passes.

Precisely for this reason, the tick should be removed as early as possible, as over time the extraction can be dangerous and difficult.

Concerning this procedure, it is necessary and recommended to rely on expert health personnel present in the emergency room or at the Continuity of Care, as the “do-it-yourself” maneuvers can be dangerous and lead to serious problems.

Tick ​​bite, what not to do

For example, although it may be instinctive, the tick should never be crushed, as with this maneuver, the bacteria contained in the tick’s stomach could be inoculated into the skin of the bitten person.

If, on the other hand, you proceed to tear the tick from the skin, this maneuver could cause the rostrum to remain inserted, which will have to be removed with a sterile needle or through a small skin incision made with a scalpel, increasing the discomfort and the risk of infections.

Further actions to avoid are those of burning the parasite when still anchored to the skin or killing it with hot irons or through the use of alcohol and/or ammonia: all these actions can concretely increase the risk of contamination and infection due to regurgitation. of the mint following its traumatic killing.

As for the health personnel who will proceed with the removal of the tick, it should be emphasized that this procedure must be done through the use of special tweezers: detaching the tick directly with your fingers could leave its residues on the skin of the professional.

How to remove a tick

The procedure for removing a tick from the skin is simple but requires expert hands and suitable tools.

For this reason, it must be carried out by health personnel and all “do it yourself” maneuvers and remedies must be avoided.

1. Using tweezers, grasp the tick at the point closest to the skin to avoid breaking the mouthparts. Do not grab the tick by the body to avoid regurgitation or to break up the parasite
2. Extract the parasite by grabbing it as close to the surface of the skin as possible, removing it by pulling gently, and trying to make a twisting motion. The movements must be delicate, but at the same time decisive.
3. During removal, it is important to avoid crushing the body of the tick as the resulting regurgitation increases the possibility of transmission of dangerous pathogens
4. If the rostrum breaks, you will notice a black dot in the center of the bite site. In this case, it will be extracted with the help of the tip of a sterile needle or by making a small incision in the sterile field with a scalpel
5. Disinfect the skin avoiding colored disinfectants to be able to monitor immediately the appearance of signs of infection or inflammation
6. If not covered, administer tetanus prophylaxis to the patient.

Once the tick has been removed, it is good to keep the bite area under control for 30-40 days.

While the formation of an itchy red crust is the normal course of the sting, if a “target” halo, called erythema migrans, occurs, it is characteristic of Lyme disease and other possible diseases.

In addition, a doctor should be contacted if symptoms such as unusual headache, acute arthritis, neurological symptoms or a flu-like illness not otherwise justified should appear.

Medicines should not be taken on their initiative, but antibiotic therapy should only be taken following a medical prescription.

Finally, if not covered, it is necessary to undergo a tetanus vaccination, as the tick can be the vehicle of this deadly disease.

How to prevent tick bites

• Wear light-colored clothing to help identify ticks
• Use clothing with long sleeves and long pants
• Wear shoes that are high and closed at the ankles
• Walk in the middle of the paths, avoiding direct contact with the vegetation
• Upon returning from an excursion, carry out a thorough inspection of the whole body with the help of another person, without neglecting the scalp.