Hiking and outdoor adventures are everyday activities for those living in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The Ridley Creek State Park, ChesLen Preserve, or Chester Valley trail are a few of the many options residents have to enjoy the nature West Chester offers. Nothing can ruin a fun day like getting home and realizing that a tick has bitten you. You have probably heard that ticks can transmit some harmful diseases, but what should you do if a tick bites you?
Description Of Ticks Common To West Chester
There are a few common types of ticks that you're likely to find in West Chester. These include:
Lone Star Tick: They are particularly likely to bite humans. They get their name from the solitary silvery dot that appears on the female species. They are reddish-brown in color and range from 1/6 to 1/4 of an inch in length.
Blacklegged Tick: Also known as deer ticks. They are orange-brown with darker legs. They are soft-shelled and range from 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch in length.
American Dog Tick: As you can likely guess, these ticks prefer to feed on dogs. They are brown with white patterning, have flat bodies, and typically measure 3/16 of an inch in length.
Ticks vary in appearance from species to species, but they engage in similar behaviors. They tend to lay in wait on blades of grass, branches, and leaves until a worthy victim passes by. Ticks will hitchhike with you or your pets back to your property.
What To Do If You Suffer A Tick Bite
Even if you do everything in your power to avoid tick bites, they can still happen. While the feel and look of a tick bite vary from person to person, you can develop a reaction to the bite, so don't be surprised if it turns into a small red bump or feels itchy or tender. It's also important to note that ticks can attach to any part of your body but gravitate towards moist and warm areas, such as the groin, behind the knees, and armpits.
Before treating the bite, it is essential to understand how to remove a tick properly. Here are precise instructions:
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Remove the tick as soon as possible. The longer it stays attached, the bigger it gets as it feeds on your blood and the greater risk of disease.
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Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick removal tool to grasp the tick as close to the skin as you can.
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Pull upward with even, steady pressure. Avoid twisting and jerking the tick to avoid leaving mouthparts behind.
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Dispose of the tick by flushing it down the toilet. If you wish to bring the tick to your doctor to help ID it, place the tick in a container or sealed bag or put it in rubbing alcohol.
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Once the tick is removed, it's essential to clean the bite area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
Tick bites are not always painful and don't always result in disease or illness. Individuals allergic to ticks can experience swelling, redness, and even breathing difficulties in severe cases.
Warning Signs Of Further Problems
The bite can take up to two weeks to heal. While you are tending to the area, look out for the symptoms of tick-borne illness for the next 30 days. Those can include but are not limited to:
Rash extending beyond the bite
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Fever
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Fatigue
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Headache
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Muscle pain
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Joint swelling and pain
For some, symptoms often begin as a red bulls-eye circle or mark around the site of the bite, followed by muscle tension, fever, chills, and generalized aching and pain throughout the body. If you experience any symptoms or are concerned about contracting a tick-borne illness, it's important to reach out to a medical professional immediately.
Common diseases caused by ticks include Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, Lyme disease, and more. If you suspect that your tick bite is infected, you'll want to contact your dermatologist or primary care doctor about treating the bite itself.
Control Tick Populations Around Your Property With Masters Touch Pest Solutions
The best thing you can do to eliminate ticks from your West Chester Property is to get in contact with the experts at Masters Touch Pest Solutions. Masters Touch Pest Solutions experts can help you with tick infestations. Since ticks can breed quite fast if they make it indoors, if you, your pets, or your family experience problems with ticks, then call us right away. We will help rid your home of ticks and tick larvae. Then we work with you to manage vegetation and provide solutions to stop ticks from returning. Contact us today!
