The ticks are quite common bugs that usually affect mainly pets, staying between their fur to feed on their blood and proliferate. However, these annoying little animals are also known to attack people, even spreading a very delicate disease, such as Lyme disease. Now, if you have been the victim of a tick bite, here you will find everything you need to know about it: how to identify it, how to prevent it and what to do if it occurs, in a complete guide on ticks and his bites.
How do you know if it is a tick bite?
The first thing you should know is that there are approximately 850 different species of ticks. Usually, their bites are harmless but, sometimes, they can produce serious health problems.
Now, to determine whether or not you have been bitten by a tick, you must take into account the possible symptoms and signs that are derived from the sting of this pest, such as:
- Difficulty breathing normally
- Blistering and rash.
- Stopping the breath
- Pain located in the area of the bite that lasts for weeks.
- Inflammation of the affected area
- Sensation of weakness
It should be noted that these symptoms of the tick bite are not applicable to all species, so sometimes there may not be any type of signal.
In addition to this, it is important to know how to recognize the symptoms associated with the diseases that can be transmitted by ticks, which can take place weeks after having received their sting. Some of the symptoms include fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, stiff neck, pain in the body, among others.
In this way, it is possible to deduce if you have been a victim of one of these bugs and if there is a probability of having contracted any of the diseases they transmit.
How to avoid a tick bite?
Obviously, nobody wants to have to deal with the annoying symptoms of a tick bite, let alone face the delicate diseases that they can spread. Therefore, it is useful to know how to avoid an attack of these bugs, for which the following recommendations are valid.
- Wear appropriate clothing that covers most of the body: if you plan to go to the countryside or to places surrounded by nature, where there may be little bugs of these, it is advisable to use long pants, socks and long-sleeved shirts, preferably light colors for be able to detect if any tick has risen.
- Make a review of clothing, skin and hair: if you are outdoors, try to check every 3 hours to see that you do not have ticks on your clothes, your skin or your hair. So, if you find one, you can remove it before it bites you.
- Use insect repellent: spray insect repellents are quite useful to avoid the approach of these pests, so we recommend applying it lightly on the clothes, before going outdoors.
What to do if a tick bites you?
If despite your efforts to stay away from ticks and avoid their bite, you have become a victim of the picket of this animal, you should do the following:
- First, clean the affected area with the help of cotton and alcohol, in order to disinfect the wound.
- Take a clamp and, with great care, try to remove the tick from your skin, ensuring that it does not break and that no part of your body is lodged in the area of the bite.
- Disinfect the area again, using another cotton with alcohol and then apply a cold compress to reduce the inflammation and itching that may have occurred.
- Avoid at all costs to scratch in the area of the tick bite, since this will only worsen the itching and inflammation, and could also lead to an infection. In case of itching, apply a calming tonic to reduce it.
- If after two weeks, you continue to experience the symptoms of the tick bite, do not hesitate to consult your doctor.
Home remedies against tick bite
Fortunately, there are some homemade alternatives that can be quite effective for the treatment of the tick bite, and here are some of them.
- Aspirin: this is one of the most practical and effective remedies to reduce the inflammation and itching produced by the bite. To receive its benefits, you only need to dilute a tablet in water to form a paste, which you will then apply on the affected area for 20 minutes.
- Baking soda: baking soda is a truly effective product to treat various skin ailments, and in this case is very helpful. To use it, mix a tablespoon of baking soda with two tablespoons of water to form a paste, and then apply it on the bite for 30 minutes.
- Aloe Vera: another infallible remedy to treat different types of ailments is aloe vera, a plant that can alleviate the rash and itching produced by the tick bite. Grab some fresh sap from the aloe vera and rub it directly on the affected area to receive its benefits. If you do not have the plant at your disposal, you can apply a little gel of aloe vera pharmaceutical, although the effects may not be the same.
When to go to the doctor in forn of a tick bite?
While it is true that most tick bites are usually harmless and that home remedies can go quite well to treat inflammation and itching, sometimes more complications can occur, presenting delicate symptoms in the patient. diseases transmitted by this pest, which we have already described previously.
If this is the case, it is essential to go to the doctor to receive the diagnosis and the corresponding treatment, in order to guarantee the health of the affected person.
