Guide To Treating And Preventing Ehrlichiosis

Remove Ticks Promptly

Removing ticks promptly stops them from continuing to pump their toxins and disease into the individual they have attached themselves to. It is important to remove ticks with a steady pulling motion. so no part of the tick remains in or on the skin. Any part of the tick remaining can cause further problems and increases the risk of being infected with conditions like ehrlichiosis. When individuals come home after an outing where they may have been exposed to ticks, it is important to take a shower because some crawling ticks may not be visible immediately. Doing a body search and taking a shower might allow individuals to find a tick and get rid of it before it bites.

Clean And Monitor Tick Bites

Sometimes ticks will end up biting anyways, but all hope is not lost. It is important to clean and monitor tick bites, so if they look infected or agitated, individuals can seek medical intervention quickly. Cleaning the area is important because it can reduce the chance for infection from other sources. Patients would clean it like any other wound, including using a disinfectant. However, as previously stated, it is important to completely remove the tick by grasping and pulling it. Patients should not use petroleum jelly or a hot match to remove it. They also want to look for any kind of rash and for any other symptoms that might accompany a bacterial infection, especially after tick bites.