Ticks

Ticks are parasitic arachnids that feed on their host animals by burying their head under the host skin feeding on the host's blood.  Some ticks can cause disease, some do not. Any tick bite requires some level of medical attention. The best method of dealing with ticks keep them off of you altogether. 

Here is a deer tick.  It is shown on a man's fingernail for scale. They are about the size of a head of a pin or maybe 1-2 mm.  This is the tick that causes Lyme's Disease.  The Deer Ticks body is black.  It is sometimes found because it looks like a moving freckle.

This is a Wood Tick.  They are considerably larger than the Deer Tick and are reddish brown in color. Even though these ticks do not cause illness, the area of the bite may become infected, especially if the entire tick is not removed.

This is an engorged deer tick.  You can just see the black head and legs.  The entire abdomen is engorged with blood from its host.  When engorged the tick is many times larger than its original size.

The Mayo Clinic has the following advice for taking care of a tick bite:

• Remove the tick promptly and carefully. Use tweezers to grasp the tick near its head or mouth and pull gently to remove the whole tick without crushing it. Other methods — such as applying petroleum jelly, fingernail polish, rubbing alcohol or a hot match — aren't recommended.
• If possible, seal the tick in a container. Put the container in a freezer. Your doctor may want to see the tick if you develop signs or symptoms of illness after a tick bite.
• Wash your hands with soap and water. Also wash the area around the tick bite.

When to seek emergency care

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you develop:

• A severe headache
• Difficulty breathing
• Paralysis
• Heart palpitations

When to contact your doctor

• You aren't able to completely remove the tick. The longer the tick remains attached to your skin, the greater your risk of getting a disease from it.
• The rash gets bigger. A small red bump may appear at the site of the tick bite. This is normal. But if it develops into a larger rash, perhaps with a bull's-eye pattern, it may indicate Lyme disease. Also consult your doctor if signs and symptoms disappear because you may still be at risk of the disease. Your risk of contracting a disease from a tick bite depends on where you live or travel to, how much time you spend outside in woody and grassy areas, and how well you protect yourself.
• You develop flu-like signs and symptoms. Fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and a headache may accompany the rash.
• You think the bite site is infected. Signs and symptoms include redness or oozing.