Tenacious Ticks
Growing up in a wooded climate, I got very well acquainted with ticks at an early age. Spend a little time walking in grassy areas and I’m sure you will find them too. Rarely do you feel their tiny legs on your skin before they attach themselves, and if left unchecked, burrow into your body. Ticks often work their way into the warm and moist nooks and crannies of the body and feed on blood while potentially transmitting diseases like Rocky Mountain-Spotted Fever and Lyme disease.
In the United States there are two varieties of ticks that can carry Lyme disease. The carriers are deer ticks and western black-legged ticks. If a tick is attached to your body, it must be removed carefully and properly, to avoid the head remaining under your skin. A bite from carrier ticks isn’t necessarily much to worry about, as infected ticks don’t generally spread the disease until 36 hours of being attached. Early signs of infection are a red circular rash around the bite, often coupled with fever, headache, and fatigue. Untreated, Lyme disease can spread and cause pain and damage to muscles, joints, the nervous system, and the heart. Most infections can successfully be treated with antibiotics, however.
Preventive care is the most effective treatment for ticks. When spending time in grassy or wooded areas, keep your arms, legs, and head covered. Tick repellants with DEET can be used on clothing and skin and be quite effective. Permethrin products can also be effective on clothing but are not recommended for use on skin. After time outdoors, check yourself thoroughly for ticks.
Black Widow Spiders
Female black widow spiders are venomous, and can be found around tree stumps and wood piles. These spiders are roughly 1.5 inches long and less than half an inch wide. Long-legged and glossy black, a female black widow has a unique orange, yellow, or red hourglass shape on the underside.
A bite from a black widow is likely to cause sharp pain, but not necessarily. The bite mark often appears as 1-2 red fang marks coupled with redness, soreness, and a nodule. Black widow bites can cause severe muscle cramps, nausea and vomiting, seizures, and a rise in blood pressure. Medical attention and anti-venom should be sought immediately. It’s recommended to bring the spider along for identification if at all possible.
Brown Recluse Spiders
From the Midwest to Southern regions of the U.S., brown recluse spiders can be found in attics and closets. The spiders body can be anywhere from dark brown to yellowish tan and they have darker legs. The venom of a brown recluse is extremely toxic and can cause serious infection.
Like the black widow, these spiders can deliver a painless bite. The affected area will often redden, then turn white with a red bullseye mark. Painful blisters can also form from a brown recluse bite. In rare cases, these bites can be life threatening so prompt medical care is recommended, as is bringing the spider for identification if possible.
Head Lice
Head lice, the dreaded, shameful reason to be sent home from school. Head lice can be found behind the ears or along the scalp line of the neck. Lice are transmitted from person-to-person by sharing hats, combs, or other personal items with someone who has lice. Lice cause itching, and scratching can lead to irritation and infection as well as hair loss in severe cases.
Lice and their eggs (nits) can be killed with shampoos, lotions, or creams available from any drug store. If lice are present in your home, it’s recommended to wash clothing, bedding, and combs and brushes. Also check and treat other family members who may have these pesky parasites.
Fleas
When your dog gets them, everyone gets them. Fleas are small, wingless, surprisingly agile insects live that off the blood of their host. Some people are more sensitive than others to flea bites, but as with any scratching, there is risk of wound and infection should you fall victim. The best way to rid your home of fleas is with an all-out cleaning assault. Keep pets off furniture and bedding and vacuum regularly. Spray insecticide can be used in infested areas but talk to your vet about an approved chemical to apply directly to your animals.
Bees, Hornets, Wasps, and Yellow Jackets
From the time we are kids, we learn that bumble bees are reluctant to sting a human, as they die after losing their stinger. However, hornets, wasps, and yellow jackets can deliver multiple stings without such a risk. As such, stings from these insects can cause serious problems for people, particularly those allergic to stings.
If allergic reaction isn’t a risk, there are many ways to treat stings. First gently and carefully remove the stinger. Then clean the sting and apply ice or a paste of baking soda and water to draw out venom and help soothe and tighten skin. For itching you can take an oral antihistamine and ibuprofen or acetaminophen will help for pain. In the case of an allergic anaphylactic reaction, use an epinephrine auto-injector if you have one and seek medical attention immediately.
Fire Ants
Tiny in stature, the fire ant can deliver a very potent sting. Fire ants can be found in most southern states and are usually identifiable by their large mounds. When disturbed, these aggressive ants lock on to your skin with the jaws then sting with their abdomens, many times if not removed immediately.
The sting of these ants causes redness, inflammation, and severe burning and itching. Pus-filled lesions can also occur at the sting site. Cold packs, antihistamines, and pain relievers can help treat the symptoms of minor attacks. A large number of stings can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction so seek medical attention as needed.
Chiggers
Chiggers are the young, larval form of the Tromiculidae mite. The bites from chiggers are painless, but the resulting affected area is generally very itchy for a few days afterward. After being attached to the skin for a few days, chiggers fall off and leave itchy red welts behind. Anti-itch medications can treat symptoms effectively but see a doctor if the skin looks infected or the welts appear to spread.
Scabies
Scabies are mites that spread through skin-to-skin contact, or sharing towels or linens with an infected person.
Skin sores and intense itching occur several weeks after mites initially get into skin. The itching can be severe, and is generally worse in the evening. The rash is typically found in sensitive areas, such as the webbing of fingers, wrists, elbows, buttocks, and genitals. Prescription medicine or lotions are required to effectively treat scabies, and it is recommended to wash all clothes, towels, and bedding in hot water.
Bedbugs
Goodnight, sleep tight, but sometimes bedbugs will bite. These little bugs are found in bedding, usually in hotels, shelters, and apartment complexes. They can easily find their way into your home via luggage, pets, and packages.
The bite of a bedbug leaves itchy red bites on the skin, usually on the arms or shoulders. While bedbugs are much more of an annoyance than a real health hazard, scratching can lead to infection. Also in the case of an allergic skin reaction, creams with corticosteroids and oral antihistamines can be used along with medical care.
Puss Caterpillar
Found in Southern states, the puss caterpillar can be found on elm, oak, and sycamore trees. Puss caterpillars are the most poisonous of their type in the United States. The poison is hidden in hollow spines among the long hairs on their body.
The sting of a puss caterpillar stings may cause waves of intense pain, rash, fever, vomiting, and muscle cramps. The broken spines can be removed by using cellophane tape or a commercial facial peel. Seek medical attention.
Scorpions
Contrary to popular belief, not all scorpions are venomous. Those that are, however, can be deadly. Scorpions are found mostly in the Southern and Western states. A sting from a venomous scorpion can cause pain, swelling, itching, vomiting, increased sweating, and vision problems. If stung by a scorpion seek medical attention immediately.
Cockroaches
Aside from being disturbing to see in your home, these ugly bugs can spread diseases like salmonella. Roaches can also cause allergic reactions and asthma. In warm climates, ridding your home of these pests can be difficult, but use of pesticides or a professional exterminator are the most effective treatments. It also helps to repair any cracks or holes in floors and walls and keep kitchen areas clean and sanitary.
Deer flies
If you spend much time in forests or wetlands, chances are you’ve had these biting flies buzzing around your head. Deerflies cause painful welts and inflammation. An effective way to soothe the bites and prevent infection is by applying alcohol to the area. Some varieties of deerflies have been known to spread an infectious bacterial disease called Tularemia, which requires medical attention. As with most bites, prevention is the best medicine. Deerflies can be deterred with insect repellent and keeping skin covered.
Mosquitoes
The most common nuisance bug, mosquitoes leave itchy red bumps at their bite sites. Scratching these areas can lead to infection, but the bigger risks are the possible infections of things like West Nile virus, Dengue fever, and others. To protect yourself from mosquitoes, keeping skin covered and using insect repellent while outdoors will minimize bites. Window screens will help keep them out of your home, as will removing any standing water in your yard which would encourage breeding.
House flies
You have good reason to keep houseflies away from you and your food… These winged pests can carry more than a million bacteria on their bodies. To control flies outdoors, keep food and garbage in closed containers. Window screens will help keep them out of your home as well, and pay extra attention to keeping a clean kitchen.
For more articles like this, remember to “LIKE” us on Facebook so you stay up-to-date.
