How To Remaove A Tick and Ticks In Beaufort and Hilton Head Island

Ticks are a common parasite in the Beaufort, Hilton Head Island and SC Lowcountry areas. The most common tick in this area is the spotted tick, also called the "Lone Star" tick. It is reddish-brown in color and has a white spot on its back. Most ticks are approximately 1/10th of an inch in size and range in color from dull brown to reddish-brown. They have 8 legs,
flat in appearance and belong to the spider family. Ticks are most often found in wooded areas, decaying vegetation and high grass. Ticks "attack" warm blooded animals and humans. Ticks come in contact with their victims either by the victim brushing against an object the tick is on or by dropping onto the victim from a low tree branch or moss. Ticks are often discovered before biting the victim when seen crawling on clothing. If not discovered, the tick will find a feeding spot and attach itself using its powerful beak. It will then pierce the skin and begin feasting on blood. Often ticks will double their size before becoming satisfied with their meal. Sometimes, if little blood is received, a tick may bury itself under the skin in search for more blood. This is seen more often in dogs and deer. The victim often notices the first signs by having an itch, then scratching and feeling a small bump or foreign object. Upon inspection, a small tick is observed. At this point, you want to properly remove the tick.
See Tick Removal below for the proper way to remove a tick. It is important to make sure you get the head out of the skin. Leaving the head behind can cause an infection. After removing the tick, cleanse the wound with soap and water and put some antibacterial ointment on the wound. Although extremely rare, ticks can carry disease, some even can be fatal if not treated early. Most tick bites will have little symptoms besides a mild itch. When bathing after an outing, it is a good idea to look your body over using a mirror. Often
ticks can be discovered this way, often before the tick has a real chance of obtaining
a really good grip or time enough to transmit any microbes it may have into your bloodstream.

Magnified, a tick is flat with a tough "shell".
Ticks begin their life from eggs laid on brush piles,
leaf piles or decaying vegetation. Sometimes more than 45,000 eggs can be in one egg colony. The eggs hatch into larvae that have 6 legs and feed on small rodents. After molting two times, the adult tick emerges and attacks humans and other large mammals. Most tick bites require little more than removing the tick properly and keeping the wound clean.
If one experiences any symptoms other than itching,
medical attention should be obtained.

Lone Star tick; copyright 1998: R.J. Sorensen
Adult Lone Star tick.

How to properly Remove a Tick
Do NOT use a cigarette, match, alcohol or your fingers to remove
a tick. These methods will cause the tick to regurgitate your blood
and any microbes the tick may be carrying
back into your blood system!
The proper way is as follows:
First, using tweezers, grasp the tick as close to its head as possible. Gently lift the tick away from your skin until your skin puckers.
Hold the tick in this position until the tick lets go.
This may take a few seconds to one minute.
Make sure the head has been removed from the wound.
Clean the wound with soap and water.
Next place a small amount of antiseptic ointment on the wound.
NOW... SAVE the tick.
Place the tick in a zip bag or a tightly sealed container.
Add one or two drops of water and a few blades of grass.
This will keep the tick from drying out.
Save the tick until you are sure no symptoms exist.
This can take several weeks.
If symptoms begin, take the tick in with you
so it may be analyzed for microbes.
Reactions are very rare, but can happen,
so saving the tick may just save your life.

"Lyme Disease"

This disease is transmitted by the Deer Tick, a small red tick, and is extremely rare in this area. It has symptoms including stiff neck, intense headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, chills, joint pain and fever. A bull's-eye rash is another symptom sometimes seen. This starts out as a red pimple,
then a rash spreads outwards to several inches in diameter with a clear center and a red outline.
Symptoms may not appear for up to several weeks.
Saving the tick really helps to identify this disease.