Receiving a tick bite in Norwalk can be worrisome due to the many diseases ticks transmit to pets and humans. Understanding tick bite treatment is the best way to reduce any chance of negative encounters with this pest.
Area Ticks And Their Dangers
There are a few types of common ticks in the Norwalk area that you should look out for. Each of these ticks carries the risk of a disease and can pose a threat to you or a pet if a bite were to occur.
- Blacklegged ticks are also known as deer ticks. These pests have black legs and dark bodies with females featuring an orange half-circle on their back. They are known for transmitting Lyme disease.
- American dog ticks are brown with yellow or grey markings along their back. These ticks generally prefer to bite animals but will bite humans occasionally. They can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- Brown dog ticks prefer to feed on dogs. These ticks are dark brown with brown legs. Their bites carry the risk of ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
- Lone star ticks have brown bodies and a single white or yellow mark on their back. They are known for transmitting STARI, which causes an allergy to red meat, and can also transfer tularemia or ehrlichiosis.
- Asian longhorned ticks are reddish-brown to dark brown. These ticks are newer to the Norwalk area. They generally prefer to bite animals over humans and can transmit the Powassan virus, Japanese spotted fever, and thrombocytopenia syndrome.
If you do find a tick on yourself, you should be extremely careful in removing it. Follow the steps below for the best results.
- Use a clean pair of fine-point tweezers and grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible.
- Pull upward on the tick. Use a steady motion and even pressure, making sure not to jerk or twist the tick. Also, avoid crushing or puncturing the tick’s body.
- After removing the tick, clean the bite site and your hands with gentle soap and water.
- Dispose of the tick’s body properly. Either flush it down the toilet, drown it in alcohol, or place it into a sealed back and throw it away.
Tick Bite Warning Signs
Because there are so many potential diseases ticks transmit, proper monitoring of a tick bite is essential. The threat of diseases is also why adequate tick control is important for your Norwalk property. Below are some of the warning signs to watch for after removing a tick:
- A rash or a red spot near the bitten area, or a full-body rash
- Pain, swelling, or a burning sensation at the bitten area
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea
- Headaches
- Neck stiffness
- Weakness
- Muscle or joint pain or aches
- Fever
- Chills
- Blisters
- Swollen lymph nodes
If you've been bitten by a tick, you should seek medical attention immediately at the first sign of symptoms or any sign of anaphylaxis.
Professional Tick Control
Because ticks carry so many risks and are fairly difficult to detect initially, the best way to control tick populations around your property is with professional assistance. The experts at Insecta X Total Pest Solutions can help prevent these pests from invading your property, reducing your chances of being bitten and encountering any negative effects from a tick bite. Contact the pest professionals today for more advice or assistance.