What Does a Tick Bite Look Like

Ever asked yourself, "What does a tick bite look like?" These stealthy pests can be carriers of serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Quick identification of a bite can help insure proper treatment in a timely manner.

Does A Tick Bite Look Like What You Have?
Ticks live in woods, fields and brushy areas. They attach themselves to animals or people who brush up against the plants they inhabit. Once aboard, a tick will make its way past fur or clothing to bite at exposed skin. The following information will help you identify and deal with a tick bite:

• It's still in the house! The best time to look for ticks is just after you return from any trip in the woods or in brushy fields. Inspect your body for ticks, paying close attention to your scalp, back, neck, armpits, and groin area. If you find that a tick has attached itself to your skin, remove it immediately. With a pair of tweezers, grab the tick as close as possible to your skin, and pull the tick off in one motion. Place the tick in a bottle of alcohol in case your doctor needs to identify it.
• Red menace. A tick bite is often associated with redness, discomfort or swelling in the area of the bite. If you have any of these symptoms, clean the area thoroughly and watch for signs of further trouble.
• Bull's-eye! Sometimes, a tick bite appears as a red area surrounded by an outer ring of redness. The outer ring will be separated from the bite area by an inner ring of clear skin. This bull's-eye bite mark is often mistaken for a spider bite.
• Be vigilant. If you suspect a tick has bitten you, pay close attention for symptoms of infection. Rocky Mountain spotted fever may appear as dark spots on the skin that show up within 3 to 12 days. Lyme disease can present itself as flu-like symptoms including joint aches, stiff neck, headache, weakness, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms may appear weeks after the initial bite. If you have any symptoms following a tick bite, see you doctor immediately.