What's a Tick?
Ticks are part of the arachnid family, which also includes mites, spiders, and
scorpions. A tick attaches itself to
the skin of an animal and sucks blood. There are hundreds of kinds of ticks on the
planet, and they can be found almost everywhere. The two types of ticks that many
people talk about are the deer tick and the dog tick.
The deer tick is about the same size as the head of a pin, and it is found in many
parts of the United States. One of the diseases that deer ticks can carry is Lyme
disease, especially in New England and parts of the Midwest. (Lyme disease gets its
name from the place where it was discovered — Lyme, Connecticut, which is in
New England.)
Dog ticks are very common and can be up to ½ inch long. If you have a dog,
chances are pretty good that you've seen a dog tick on its coat. One disease that
this type of tick can carry is called Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
What a Bite Looks and Feels Like
A person who gets bitten by a tick usually won't feel anything at all. There might
be a little redness around the area of the bite.
If you think you've been bitten by a tick, tell an adult immediately.
Some ticks carry diseases (such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever) and
can pass them to people.
What You Should Do
Your parent or another responsible adult should check you for ticks after you've
been playing or hiking in the woods, especially on your head (including your scalp),
back, neck, armpits, and groin area. If you ever find a tick on you, ask for an adult's
help in removing it. Using tweezers, an adult should grab the tick as close as possible
to your skin, and pull the tick off in one motion. Don't cover the
tick with petroleum jelly, fingernail polish, or any other substance, since these
don't help the tick come out and can make things more complicated.
If part of the tick stays in your skin, don't worry — it will eventually
come out. But you should tell a parent if you notice any irritation in the area. Once
the tick is removed, your parent may want to put the tick in a small container or
zip-locked bag to show to your doctor.
What a Doctor Will Do
Doctors don't need to treat most tick bites. But if the tick was carrying Lyme
disease or Rocky Mountain spotted fever and passed it on, any symptoms that might
mean you are sick will be treated with antibiotics. Your doctor might ask to see the
tick to help make a diagnosis. If these diseases are treated early on, it's rare for
there to be any lasting changes to a person's health.
How to Avoid Getting Bitten
Ticks like spending time in shrubbery, where they can remain close to the ground
in order to jump on people or animals that pass by. If you are hiking in the woods,
wear long sleeves and long pants, and tuck your pants into your socks. Wearing an
insect repellent also might help. Have your parents apply one that contains 10% to
30% DEET.
Dogs are also very good at picking up ticks in their coats, so ask an adult to
help you bathe your dog with a tick shampoo and give your dog a tick collar.
