Ticks
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Ticks
Ticks are small spiderlike creatures (arachnids) that bite into the skin and attach themselves to feed on blood. Tick bites occur most often during early spring to late summer.
Two types of ticks commonly found in the United States are deer ticks and Western black-legged ticks, and both types may carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease. However, most ticks do not carry disease or cause serious health problems.
Ticks can live in the fur and feathers of many birds and animals. You are more likely to get a tick bite when you are in places where there are many wild animals and birds.
It is important to remove a tick as soon as you discover one. Removing the body of the tick will help you avoid diseases the tick may pass on during feeding.
Credits
| Author | Jeannette Curtis |
| Author | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Last Updated | May 25, 2007 |
| Last updated: | May 25, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman |
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