We love the summer season for many reasons, but not for the increase in bugs and creepy crawlies in the area. The summer temperatures make us crawl out of our homes and into the sun, and the same goes for mosquitoes and ticks!

Ticks can be found at any point in the year in North Carolina, but they are more prevalent during the late spring to early fall.

If you discover a tick on your body, try to remove it as quickly as possible. Our AFC Urgent Care Hickory team explains how to effectively remove ticks below, so read on to learn how!

Do Tick Bites Hurt?

The tricky thing about ticks is that they can get onto your body in a variety of ways. They can drop from trees, get picked up on your pant leg after a stroll through long grass, and your dog can even bring them into the house on its fur. Once they are on your body, they can be hard to feel and the majority of people don’t notice when they get bitten.

The painful part may come when you are removing it! If a tick has bitten you, you want to remove it as quickly as possible. Ticks that are carrying Lyme disease have to be attached to you for at least 36 hours before transmitting the disease, so the faster you move, the better. It can be a bit painful to pull the tick away, but once it is gone, the redness and irritation will go away in a day or so.

Tick Removal Tips

• Use a clean tweezers and pull slowly and steadily away from the skin.
• Do not twist as you pull.
• Take a picture of the tick.
• Dispose in the garbage between a piece of tape or flush it down the toilet.
• Wash your hands and the bite site thoroughly.

What Symptoms Should I Watch for After a Tick Bite?

If you get bitten, it is not a guarantee that you will get Lyme disease. Take a deep breath and just keep an eye on how you feel over the next month. Lyme disease symptoms can appear as early as three days after the bite, or not until 30 days have passed. Lyme disease symptoms include a bulls-eye rash around the bite site, a fever, headache, or body chills and aches.

Timing is key when it comes to Lyme disease. If you are ever concerned about your symptoms, come see us for an evaluation. Failing to treat Lyme disease early can leave you with chronic pain, fatigue and other frustrating symptoms.

Avoiding Tick Bites

• Tuck your pant legs into your shoes or socks.
• Wear bug spray with DEET.
• Avoid heavily wooded areas and long grasses.
• Check your skin frequently.

If you are ever worried about an animal or insect bite, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Hickory.