Eye on Health: Responding to Tick Bites

Thanks to singer Brad Paisley any country music fan will crack a smile at the line I want to check you for ticks But in all seriousness if you spend any time outdoors in a wooded or grassy area you do need to check yourself for ticks Abby Wuellner tells us why in tonight s Eye on Health They re not even as big as the tip of a pencil but these little guys can cause quite a stir Dr Jeffrey Sather Trinity Health Ticks are out in full force now and we have people call all the time asking about ticks or show up with a tick bite If a tick manages to latch onto your skin ER physician Dr Jeffrey Sather says the best way to remove it is to grab it with a pair of tweezers and pull the entire insect out with a straight upward movement However he still sees many patients this time of year who are afraid of the possible side effects of a tick bite Dr Sather You need to watch for infection that would be redness in the area Truth be told most wood ticks are really pretty harmless Dr Sather Everyone thinks about Lyme Disease with tick bites and here in North Dakota we re lucky We have a very low prevalence of Lyme Disease However that doesn t eliminate the risk of infection or allergic reaction Dr Sather says if you remove the tick and irritation persists then you should probably get in touch with a doctor Dr Sather If you get a bite and you see some redness and it begins to spread and spread you should be seen Or if it s there for a prolonged period of time you should be seen But redness at the site of the bite for a couple of days is a normal reaction But the best medicine in this case is prevention If you re headed into the great outdoors for awhile wear bug spray long sleeve shirts and pantscover as much skin as possible and when you re back inside for the day Dr Sather Get in the shower like you normally would but inspect yourself for ticks Don t forget to check yourself for ticksfrom your hair to the tips of your toes With your Eye on Health Abby Wuellner KX News