In addition, female ticks that attach and suck blood near the spinal cord can produce a condition known as "tick paralysis" in livestock, pets, and humans. See Purdue Extension publication E-244-W " Lyme Disease" (PDF 834KB) for details about Lyme disease. The majority of tick species in Indiana feed on wild animals and livestock, but some species feed on humans and are vectors of several diseases that are mentioned below. This will enable you to make more informed decisions about health risks, avoid contact with ticks, decide whether to attempt tick control, and determine how to conduct control when deemed necessary. You are encouraged to learn more about the biology of ticks in Indiana. They also are vectors of a wide variety of disease-causing organisms to animals and are second only to mosquitoes in terms of public health importance. Be sure to tell the physician if you have been outdoors in areas where ticks were present or traveled to areas where tickborne diseases are common.Ticks are well known bloodsucking external parasites of humans, pets, livestock, and wild animals. If you have an unexplained illness with fever, contact a physician.Wash the bite area and your hands thoroughly with soap and water and apply an antiseptic to the bite site.If you want to have the tick identified, put it in a small vial of alcohol. Ticks can be safely disposed of by placing them in a container of soapy water or alcohol, sticking them to tape or flushing them down the toilet. If tweezers are not available, grasp the tick with a piece of tissue or cloth or whatever can be used as a barrier between your fingers and the tick. The best way to remove a tick is to grasp it firmly with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and gently, but firmly, pull it straight out. Do not use bare hands to remove the tick because tick secretions may carry disease. Do not burn the tick with a match or cover it with petroleum jelly or nail polish. The mouthparts of a tick are barbed and may remain embedded and lead to infection at the bite site if not removed promptly. Ticks will stick to the tape which can then be folded over and then placed in the trash. A ring of tape can be made around the hand by leaving the sticky side out and attaching the two ends. If ticks are crawling on the outside of clothes, they can be removed with masking tape or cellophane tape.If your pets spend time outdoors, check them for ticks, too. Most ticks seldom attach quickly and rarely transmit disease organisms until they have been attached four or more hours. Check yourself, children and other family members every two to three hours for ticks.In camping areas, individuals who sit on the ground or disturb leaf litter on the forest floor may encounter ticks. Walk in the center of trails so weeds do not brush against you.Always supervise children in the use of repellents. Always follow label directions do not misuse or overuse repellents. Use repellents containing permethrin to treat clothes (especially pants, socks and shoes) but not skin. Be sure to wash treated skin after coming indoors. Avoid sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth and nasal membranes. Do not spray directly to the face spray the repellent onto hands and then apply to face. Apply insect repellent containing 10 percent to 30 percent DEET primarily to clothes.Tape the area where pants and socks meet so ticks cannot crawl under clothing. (Ticks are easier to detect on light-colored clothing.) Tuck trouser cuffs in socks. Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long trousers, boots or sturdy shoes and a head covering.
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