Bug bites are aggravating. They cause an unsightly mark and they often itch. They can also carry several types of diseases and infections, causing them to be a bit frightening as well. Tick bites are common, but knowing the signs of a tick bite can help you to treat it properly as well as know about the dangers they can present.

Ticks are small parasites that are related to spiders and mites. They attach to the skin and feed on blood. Ticks like to live in the fur or feathers of animals. Because of this, most tick bites occur during early springs to late summer since this is when most animals are around plus many people are outdoors gardening, camping and hiking.

A tick’s bite can easily be mistaken for a mosquito bite as a small red bump that can cause mild itching before it goes away on it’s own. It’s when the tick may have been carrying a disease that symptoms become more serious. Symptoms may not begin until 1-3 days after the initial bite. Initial symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, severe headache, and muscle pain. Since these symptoms can be part of any number of conditions, let the doctor know if there is a chance of a recent bug bite, including a tick.

There are a few ticks to be on the look out for. A deer tick is about a fourth of the size of a dime and has a black body with a light bluish-gray colored sac. The deer ticks can carry Lyme disease with most symptoms not presenting until 5-10 days after the bite. When the bite has a bull’s eye rash around it then medical attention in required immediately.

Another tick to be on the look out for is the wood tick which is also know as the dog tick. It’s usually around the size of a watermelon seed and can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever. It often first presents itself with several small red dots on the ankles and wrists and shows up a few days after a fever develops.

Most ticks do not carry any diseases, making their bite more of a nuisance than a problem. If a tick is found on the body, remove it immediately but pulling it straight off the skin. If possible, put the tick in a container to show a doctor should the person bitten gets sick. Clean the skin with soap and water swab the skin with alcohol. Prevent tick bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts tucked into pants during the winter months. In the summer, use an EPA approved tick repellent which can be found in almost every outdoor store. Also, check exposed skin frequently for ticks while outside. Check pets too.

The outdoors should be a fun experience that everyone has the right to enjoy. Take a few simple precautions and treat any bite immediately. Also, knowing the signs of tick bites and the different types of bites may help from getting seriously ill.