How do ticks look and what to do? - briefly
Ticks are tiny, oval, reddish‑brown arachnids, about the size of a grain of rice when unfed and enlarging to a dark, pea‑sized ball after a blood meal. Remove them promptly with fine‑point tweezers, grasping near the skin and pulling straight upward, then disinfect the bite site.
How do ticks look and what to do? - in detail
Ticks are small arachnids, typically 2–5 mm long when unfed. Their bodies consist of a rounded capitulum (mouthparts) and a flat, oval idiosoma (body). Color ranges from reddish‑brown to dark brown, becoming pale or grayish when engorged after feeding. Engorged females may swell to 10 mm or more, resembling a tiny, translucent balloon.
Four life stages—egg, larva, nymph, adult—each require a blood meal. Larvae (seed ticks) have six legs and appear translucent; nymphs and adults possess eight legs and are more opaque. All stages attach to hosts by inserting a barbed hypostome into the skin, creating a firm grip that resists removal.
Immediate actions after discovering a tick
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible with fine‑pointed tweezers.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure; avoid twisting or crushing the body.
- Disinfect the bite area and hands with alcohol or iodine.
- Preserve the tick in a sealed container for species identification if disease risk assessment is needed.
Preventive measures
- Wear long sleeves and trousers, tucking the latter into socks when entering wooded or grassy areas.
- Apply EPA‑registered repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to exposed skin.
- Treat clothing and gear with permethrin according to label instructions.
- Perform full‑body tick checks within two hours of leaving the environment; remove any attached ticks promptly.
- Maintain lawns by mowing regularly and removing leaf litter to reduce habitat.
Post‑bite monitoring
- Observe the bite site for erythema, expanding rash, or flu‑like symptoms for up to 30 days.
- Seek medical evaluation if a rash resembling a bull’s‑eye appears, or if fever, headache, or joint pain develop.
- Inform the clinician of recent outdoor exposure and, if possible, provide the removed tick for laboratory testing.