Unlike most other bugs that bite , ticks typically remain attached to your body after they bite you. After a period of up to 10 days of drawing blood from your body, an engorged tick can detach itself and fall off. Tick bites are usually harmless and may produce no symptoms. Some ticks carry diseases, which can be passed on when they bite. Tick-borne diseases can cause a variety of symptoms and usually develop within several days to a few weeks after a tick bite.
Potential symptoms of tick-borne diseases include:. Be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible if bitten by a tick in order to be evaluated for any potential treatment. Tick bites are often easy to identify. This is because the tick can remain attached to the skin for up to 10 days after it first bites. Most tick bites are harmless and will cause no physical signs or symptoms. Only certain types of ticks transmit disease.
Most signs or symptoms of a tick-borne disease will begin to occur within a few days to a few weeks after a tick bite. For example, in areas of the country where Lyme disease is common, it may be recommended under certain conditions that you receive treatment for Lyme disease after a tick bite even before symptoms start.
Let your doctor know that a tick recently bit you. Your doctor will complete a thorough history, exam, and testing to determine whether your symptoms are the result of a tick-borne disease. A tick may attach itself to your pet, too. Ticks can also leave you and attach themselves to your pets.
Various kinds of ticks exist in large populations throughout the country. Most states have at least one type of tick known to live there. Ticks are at their peak population in the spring and summer months, typically April through September. The most important thing to do when you find a tick on you is to remove it. You can remove the tick yourself with a tick removal tool or with a set of tweezers.
Follow these steps:. See your doctor as soon as possible to find out if any treatment is necessary based on the type of tick that bit you. Different parts of the country have different risks when it comes to diseases from tick bites.
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Updated visitor guidelines. Top of the page. Ticks: How to Avoid and Remove Ticks. Overview Most ticks do not carry diseases, and most tick bites do not cause serious health problems. How to avoid tick bites Learn where ticks and deer that carry ticks are most commonly found in your community. Avoid those areas if possible. Cover as much of your body as possible when working or playing in grassy or wooded areas.
Wear a hat, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants with the legs tucked into your socks. Keep in mind that it is easier to spot ticks on light-colored clothes. Use insect repellents , such as products with DEET. Clear leaves, brush, tall grasses, woodpiles, and stone fences from around your house and the edges of your yard or garden. This may help reduce ticks and the rodents that the ticks depend on. Remove plants that attract deer, and use barriers to keep deer—and the deer ticks they may carry—out of your yard.
Call your local landscaping nursery or county extension office to see if your yard can be treated for ticks with nonchemical or environmentally safe methods. Checking for ticks When you come in from outdoors, check all over your body for ticks, including your groin, head, and underarms. Comb your hair with a fine-toothed comb, or have someone check your scalp. Ticks can come into your house on clothing, outdoor gear, and pets. These ticks can fall off and attach to you.
Check your clothing and outdoor gear. Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.
Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
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