With the weather turning to warmer temperatures, there are some small insects that one might want to look out for: Ticks.

These parasites feed on human and animal blood and can be found in Missouri all year, although they are most commonly seen after the last frost.  Already this spring, there seems to be an abundance of ticks.

Through their body fluids – like saliva and blood – ticks can give humans diseases such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Lyme disease and Lyme-like illness.

Two of the common tick-borne diseases are Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease.

Lyme disease is an acute inflammatory disease caused by a tick-borne spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi, characterized by recurrent episodes of decreasing severity in which joint swelling, fever, and rash occur, sometimes with cardiac or nervous system complications.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the most severe and most frequently reported rickettsial illness in the United States.

If one is outside, make sure that you take some precautions.

“We recommend that you use some type of tick repellant, saturate your boots (shoes), socks, jeans, waistline and that type of stuff,” said Roger Brock, Newton County Health Department environmental public health supervisor.

The best way to protect yourself against these illnesses is to avoid tick bites.

• Eliminate tick habitat in the yard by cleaning up brush, liter and woodpiles. Prune branches to let sunlight in and consider treating the yard with a pesticide

• Avoid areas where ticks are likely to be found, such as moist, cool places under ground cover, brush or leaves

• If  you are in these areas, wear shoes and socks and long pants. Tuck your pant legs into your socks

• Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks are easier to spot

• According to Brock, apply an insect repellant with no more than 30 percent DEET to adults and to children older than two months old.

Also, avoid putting it near children’s eyes and mouth or on their hands. Do not use insect repellent on children less than two months old. DEET will offer a few hours of protection. Be sure to wash it off your skin when you return indoors.

The health department also encourages people to check themselves frequently for ticks.

“They are most likely to transmit diseases after they have been feeding for two or more days,” said the health department in a prepared statement. “Look in warm places, such as your underarms, sock-line, behind your ears, under tight-fitting clothing and in your hair.”

Tick bites

A tick’s bite is usually painless, so you may not even know they are there. But once they bite, they may stay attached to the skin until they become engorged with blood and let go. This can take up to 10 days. If you spot a tick on you, remove it promptly.

• “You want to try to use a pair of tweezers and make sure that you get a hold of the (tick) head and safely remove it without squeezing the body to much,” said Brock. “One of the risks, of course, is if you get hold of a tick and basically mash them, they can regurgitate, inject their fluid into you while he has you bit.”

• Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible.

• With steady pressure pull the tick out of the skin. Do not twist or jerk, which may cause the tick’s mouth to break off in your skin. Do not use creams, liquids or heat to get the tick to release.

• After you remove the tick, wash the bite site and your hands with soap and water.

• Label a freezer bag with the date of the bite, seal the tick inside and store it in your freezer for two - three weeks in case you develop medical complications.
The health department also stated that “Although most tick bites will heal on their own, watch for a sudden onset of fever, muscle pain or headache followed by a rash. If any of these symptoms develop, contact your health care provider.”

For more information, contact your physician or the Newton County Health Department at 451-3743.