Why Should You Be Concerned About Ticks In Colorado?

There are around 30 different ticks in Colorado that can cause a number of diseases and illnesses. Knowing what they are and how to treat them can save your life.

Ticks can carry a range of diseases, not the least of which is Lyme disease, but also tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and others. according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But there are a number of things that can happen to you if you are bitten by a tick. For example, Colorado Tick fever, which is usually found in western states like Colorado, has no medication or vaccine to treat it.

Knowing what type of tick you may have been bitten by is helpful, as well as a few things to consider when you go into areas known to be inhabited by ticks.

It is recommended you wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to reduce the areas of exposure and try to avoid areas with long grass, as this is a natural habitat for ticks. It is also recommended you spray your clothing with DEET, as that is the most effective tick repellent.

If you get bitten by a tick, removing them is important, and not always the easiest thing to do. First, it needs to be removed as soon as you notice it, so grab a pair of tweezers and grab it as close to your skin as you can, Keeping steady, even pressure, pull the tick out slowly, don't jerk it or twist it. The idea is to get the whole thing out and jerking or twisting it out can cause parts of it to remain under your skin.

Once you get it out, wash the area with alcohol and soap and water. Don't crush it with your fingers once it's out but instead, put it in a bag with alcohol, seal it and toss it in the trash.

If, after a few days or a week you notice redness or a rash developing where the bite was, go see your doctor. Try to remember as much about where you were when you got bit. That information can be helpful.