Healthwatch: Ticks, Insects and Snakes
JACKSON, Tenn. – They are small and often go unnoticeable at sometimes. Insects and snakes can make you sick. Ticks are known to carry diseases and there are some types you should pay extra attention to. Terence Greenhill from Jackson Madison County General Hospital said, “The three major tick type borne illnesses we see in this particular area are lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever, and rickettsia. All three of those illnesses carry the same symptoms fever, malaise, basically the people are real drugged down, they feel tired all the time, there is a rash associated with a couple of those.” And when it comes to removing the tricky critter simple is best. Greenhill said, “Don’t paint them with fingernail polish, don’t burn them cause that will irritates the tick and the tick actually throws up a little bit and the bacteria that cause the illnesses are actually in their stomach.” If a tick has latched onto your skin experts recommended simply grab the tick at the base of their head with a tweezers and pull them directly out. Snakes also pose a threat in the summer. If you encounter a snake medical experts urge you to not try to be a hero. Greenhill said, “We will notice a lot of the time, with snake bites people will want to do like they did in the old westerns. They want to try and cut the wound open and put a tourniquet on it. We don’t recommend any of that.” Leave treatment up to medical professionals. Greenhill said, “The best thing to do in that situation is try to get the person calm and to get them to the emergency department. Don’t elevate the extremity that was bitten and don’t put ice on it or anything. just try to keep it as it is.” The only time snake bites are immediately deadly is if the victim has a rare allergy. If someone you know is bitten do not attempt to catch the snake. Emergency personnel can treat the patient without knowing what kind of snake bite them.
