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Ticks aren’t feared the way
their larger relatives spiders
and scorpions are, but, in
North America at least, they
present a greater hazard.
Ticks carry Lyme disease,
babesiosis, Rocky Mountain
spotted fever and many other
diseases. Fortunately, ticks
often crawl around on the
bodies of their prey for several
hours before attaching, and
even after attaching they need
about 24 hours to transmit disease. Thus, thorough tick checks, ideally
by another person, should be conducted twice daily when in tick country.
The scalp, armpits and groin warrant particular attention. To remove a
tick, simply grasp it firmly with tweezers or gloved fingers close to the
victim’s skin and pull it directly out. Attempts to burn, smother or twist
are unnecessary and may create problems. Wash the site after removing
the tick, and keep an eye out for any unusual symptoms. Report them to a
doctor if they occur. Long pants, long sleeves, a hat with a brim and insect
repellent at the cuffs can help reduce the risk of tick bites.
Insects
Bees, wasps, fire ants and hornets (order Hymenoptera) are well known for
the painful stings they can deliver. While the venom of a single individual is
not generally potent enough to cause severe symptoms, multiple stings that
might result from disturbing a hive or encountering a swarm could deliver
enough venom to cause a headache, nausea, fever or dizziness. The real
concern with these insects, however, is the potential for a serious allergic
reaction. Anaphylaxis will occur following a bee sting in 1 to 3 percent of the
population. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction in which the airway begins
to swell shut, impairing breathing, while the blood vessels dilate, lowering
blood pressure to dangerous levels. As an allergic reaction, anaphylaxis is
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