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ROCHESTER, Minn. — It is tick season again. I know that firsthand, as one of the little critters crawled across my face when I was gardening.
Some ticks carry bacteria that transmit diseases, such as Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. If you find a tick attached to your skin, the Mayo Clinic News Network has an
article
with suggestions as to who to do:
- Remove the tick carefully and as soon as possible. Use fine tipped tweezers to pull the entire tick out without twisting it. Don't use petroleum jelly, fingernail polish or a hot match.
- Save it in a sealed container if possible in case a health care provider wants to see it.
- Wash your hands and the bite with warm soapy water or rubbing alcohol.
Call your health care provider if:
- You can't remove all of the tick.
- You develop a rash that gets bigger.
- You get a fever or flu-like symptoms.
- You think you may have been bitten by a deer tick.
Call 911 if you develop:
- A severe headache
- Difficulty breathing
- Paralysis
- Heart palpitations
Antibiotics can be very effective against Lyme disease, so don't delay seeing your healthcare provider.
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