Most species of tick are warm-blooded animal parasites. Tick bites are annoying and can be painful, resulting in skin inflammation and possible infection. Ticks are arachnids; they are closely related to scorpions, spiders and mites. All ticks have eight legs and are grouped into either the hard tick or soft tick family. Hard ticks feature smooth, hard skin and an apparent head while soft ticks feature leathery, tough skin with an indistinguishable head. Several of both tick varieties can attack and transmit disease to animals and adults.
Several tick species can be harmful to adults. American dog ticks can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which may be harmless to most animals but can be deadly to dogs and adults humans. Fever, headache, chills and nausea are common side effects linked with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Several different tick species, such as the black-legged tick and Lone Star tick. are known to spread lyme disease, which can lead to neurological disorders.
Adults who find themselves in one of nature's ideal tick-inhabiting environments should check themselves frequently for ticks. Ticks can attach themselves to flesh without the host knowing. Many diseases from a tick, however, are not transferred until between two and eight hours into feeding, which is why it is important to remove ticks quickly after finding them on skin or clothes.
Remove ticks immediately after you notice they have attached to your skin or clothing. Touching an attached tick with a hot needle or drops of liquid, such as turpentine or alcohol, can make the tick to release its grip. Tick bite victims should never remove an attached tick with their fingers. Pinching a tick with bare fingers will likely crush the tick, exposing the bacteria it carried and could lead to infection. You can use blunt tweezers to remove ticks; remove them in a straight, steady motion to decrease the likelihood of mouthparts detaching and remaining on the skin. Disinfect bite sites after tick removal.