Beware of Ticks! How to protect yourself from these dangerous creatures?

Have you ever seen a small insect hanging on the body of your pet dog or cat? You might think it's just a small animal. But did you know that these little creatures called ticks can carry diseases that are so dangerous that we can't even imagine? So today we'll talk about these fleas, the harm they can cause us, and how to protect ourselves from them.

Who are these ticks?

Simply put, fleas are parasitic insects that live on the bodies of other animals and suck their blood. In medical terms, we call them ectoparasites. These animals like to live in moist and shady environments, especially in grass, bushes, and wooded areas.

How do they look?

A question many people have is how to identify this flea.

• Size: A female flea grows to about 3-4 millimeters, about the size of a small sesame seed. Males are even smaller.
• Shape: Both have a flat, oval body shape.
• Color: Females are orange-brown in color, with dark legs and mouthparts. Their abdomens turn dark after feeding. Males are always reddish-brown.
• Special features: They have 8 legs, but no antennae.

Fleas' diet and life cycle

Fleas live by sucking the blood of animals such as mammals, reptiles, and birds. Drinking blood is essential for their survival at every stage of their life. The amazing thing is that they can easily detect things like the breath, body odor, and heat of animals and find their prey.

The average lifespan of a flea is about two years. They lay their eggs in the spring. The tiny fleas that hatch from these eggs, which are in the larval stage, feed on the blood of small animals and hibernate during the winter. They then become active again, becoming nymphs and finally becoming full-grown fleas.

Are fleas really dangerous?

Yes, absolutely. The problem isn't just the little red spot that appears when a flea bites you. The main risk is the diseases that fleas transmit . When these animals transfer blood from one animal to another, they can introduce dangerous bacteria and viruses into our bodies.

Below are some of the flea-borne diseases that are common among us in Sri Lanka and those seen in other parts of the world.

What to do if you get bitten by a flea?

Imagine you see a flea hanging on you or your child. Don't panic. The most important thing is to remove it properly and safely.

The correct way to remove fleas

1. Use good tweezers: Get tweezers with fine tips and a good grip.

2. Grasp the flea as close to the skin as possible: Without touching the body of the flea, grab it with the tweezers as close to the skin as possible, right where its head is attached to the skin.

3. Pull straight up: Don't twist or squeeze. Pull straight up at a steady speed, vertically. Doing so will reduce the chance of the flea's mouth parts remaining inside the skin.

4. Clean the wound: After removing the tick, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.Clean with an antiseptic .

5. Remove the flea: Put the removed flea in the toilet and flush it.

When should I see a doctor?

It's normal for the area where the flea bite was to be slightly red and itchy for a few days. However, if you experience any of the following symptoms, see your doctor immediately without delay.

• If symptoms such as fever, headache , body aches , and fatigue develop within a few days.
• A large red spot, especially a bull's-eye rash, appears at the site of the flea bite.
• If the wound where the flea bite occurred is swollen and the pain is increasing.
• If you experience joint pain or swelling.

How can you protect yourself from fleas?

“Prevention is better than cure,” they say. So, rather than getting sick from fleas, it's best to stay away from them.

• Keep the garden clean: Keep the grass in the garden trimmed short. Clean up around fences, under trees, and around bushes. Do not let decaying leaves or wood chips accumulate.
• Protect your pets: Properly use tick repellents/treatments prescribed by a veterinarian to protect your dogs and cats from fleas.
• Be careful when going to forested areas: If you are going to walk in a forest or bushy area, wear long pants and long-sleeved clothing. Wear shoes. It is even better if you can tuck your pants into your socks over your clothes.
• Check after returning home: After playing outside, working in the garden, or walking in the woods, check yourself, your children, and your pets carefully. Pay special attention to areas like between your hair, behind your ears, under your armpits, in your groin, and behind your knees.
• Pest Control: If your garden has a high flea population, it is advisable to seek the assistance of a professional pest control company.

Ticks, Tick, tick-borne diseases, tick bite, tick-borne diseases, Lyme disease, Tick Typhus, how to remove ticks, tick removal, fleas on pets