Almost anywhere in the countryside you're liable to be in close proximity to small but nasty little creatures called ticks
These little relatives of spiders are bloodsuckers that like to climb tall grass and other vegetation in order to cling onto any passing mammal that brushes past them for a free meal
And unfortunately they can transmit a bacterial disease called "Lyme" from the bacteria that lives in their stomachs
Symptoms are similar to flu;
- Fever
- Headaches
- Pain in muscles and joints
- Fatigue
Some people have claimed to suffer for many years after being infected if they didn't get early treatment...
Once they find a victim they like climb into a nice warm spot like the groin or armpit where they will not be disturbed as they eat
There are chemical products that can deter ticks and as they only climb up simple steps like tucking trousers into socks can also help prevent bites
A common symptom of a tick bite is the "bullseye" rash shown here of a red swelling surrounded by an outer ring shaped rash sometimes these can take weeks to develop long after the tick has gone so if you have something like this visit your doctor as soon as possible
Many first aid kits will include tweezers which can be used to removed the tick but this is very difficult as their jaws are jagged like a saw blade to give them a strong grip on their victim
Often the body can be crushed leaving the head embedded in the wound prone to infection or even when being gentle run the large risk of squeezing the little beastie causing it to vomit its stomach contents, including the aforementioned bacteria into the wound
But you can buy very inexpensive little plastic tick removal tool similar to a prybar for pulling nails that fit around the ticks head allowing you to twist and lift it out which greatly reduce this risk
For anyone going outdoors I would recommend having one of these in your first aid kit particularly parents or pet owners like dog walkers, and as I said they like to climb into areas difficult to see a small mirror is also advisable
Not all tick bites will result in bacterial infection but in all cases its advisable to see a medical professional for assessment
