1) What are ticks?

Ticks are members of the arachnid family - the same family as spiders and mites. They are ectoparasites (ie external parasites as opposed to internal parasites) and they feed on blood from mammals and birds.

2) What do they look like?

There are three stages in the life cycle of the tick - larva, nymph and adult and the size and appearance changes at each stage. The larva are not much bigger than a poppy seed or full stop, whereas the adults are much bigger and have clearly visible legs like a minature spider. The nymph are somewhere in between both in size and appearance.

3) Where are they found?

Typically ticks are found in long grass or leaf litter and on low plants. There are usually more ticks in woodland but they can also be found in fields and on moorland, especially where there are livestock and deer. However, they can also be found in other places where there is wildlife and plant cover, including town parks and gardens.

4) How do they become attached?

Ticks can't fly and they're not very good at jumping. They are good at crawling though so they climb on as people or animals brush past and then look for a safe place to feed.

5) So what's the problem?

Firstly, it isn't really very nice being attacked by a blood sucking insect - there's something quite primeval about it and it's the stuff of nightmares, but secondly, and increasingly more importantly, there is the risk of catching a tick bourne disease such as Lyme disease. There are other tick-bourne diseases but the most common one in the UK is Lyme disease (which is also known as Borreliosis).

6) What is Lyme disease?

Symptoms usually begin a few days or weeks after a tick bite. The first sign is often an expanding pink or red rash which may reach up to 75cm in diameter if left untreated. The rash can appear like a bull's eye target or it may be more irregular. Other symptoms may occur, such as fever, headache, chills, muscle and joint aches and extreme tiredness. If left untreated the infection can progress and result in more serious complications, such as skin lesions, heart abnormalities and neurological symptoms. If in doubt at any time medical advice should be obtained from a suitably qualified person.

7) Can Lyme disease be treated?

Treatment with antibiotics in the early stages is normally successful but a delay in treatment can affect the course of recovery and may result in permanent tissue damage. If in doubt at any time medical advice should be obtained from a suitably qualified person.

8) How do I know if I have been bitten?

Ticks have specialised saliva that numbs the bite area and keeps the blood flowing so it isn't always easy to tell when you've been bitten. Ticks can attach themselves almost anywhere on your body but they prefer warm, moist areas where blood flows close to the skin, such as the back of your knees and elbows, armpits, groin, behind your ears and on your scalp. Consequently, it's important to check yourself regularly all over if you have been in an area where ticks are likely to be.

9) Will I catch Lyme disease if I've been bitten?

Probably not - the majority of people who are bitten by a tick do not show any symptoms of the disease. Not every tick carries infective organisms, and even if it does not every bite transmits the disease, particularly if the tick is removed as soon as possible. However, it is important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease so you can look out for it if you know you've been bitten or if you've been in an area where you could have been bitten.

10) What should I do if I find a tick?

If you find a tick you should remove it as soon as possible. If left alone a tick may feed for up to a week, gradually swelling in size and increasing the risk of infection as time passes - the longer an infected tick is allowed to feed, the more likely it is that it will pass on the disease.

11) How should I remove a tick?

First of all what you shouldn't do - don't just scratch it off or squeeze the body, don't try and burn it off with a cigarette or freeze it with a spray, and don't smother it in petroleum jelly, spirits or oils. It's easy enough to remove a tick like this, but you may also encourage it to regurgitate the blood it has already taken and potentially infected in its own body, thereby increasing the risk of the tick passing on the infection.

What you should do is remove it with a tick removal tool or fine tipped tweezers. The tick should be grasped as close to the skin as possible so that it is pulled out without any regurgitation and with less chance of leaving the mouth parts still attached to your skin.

12) Which is the best tick removal tool to use?

Unfortunately there isn't one single answer to this. The problem is that ticks vary enormously in size from little more than tiny black specks when they first attach themselves to large, bloated rice crispie type things when they have gorged themselves. The effectiveness and ease of use of each of the tick removal tools varies as the size of the tick varies but the table below should give some guidance.

Care Plus Tick Out Tweezers		The Care Plus Tick Out Tweezers are operated by pushing the spring loaded top in and out, a bit like a ball point pen. This makes them more controllable and easier to use than standard tweezers.	Best one for very small ticks.	£4.95
O'Tom Tick Twister		The O'Tom Tick Twister is like a tiny claw hammer that can be used to pull out ticks. There are two in every pack - large and small for different sized ticks. They are also available with a silicone grip that makes them easier to handle.	Most versatile because there are two in every pack - large and small - but they can be a bit fiddly to use in big hands.	£4.50
Trix Tick Lasso		The Trix Tick Lasso is operated a bit like a ball point pen but instead of tweezers on the end (like the Care Plus Tick Out) there is a lasso that can be looped around the neck of the tick, below the bloated body.	Best one for bloated ticks and for using with animals (where typically the ticks are bloated before you find them).	£6.50
Tick Card		The Tick Card is a credit card sized bit of plastic with a notch in the corner - a big notch for big ticks and a little notch for little ticks. Sounds incredibly simple and it is, but it's also very effective.	Very easy to use with ticks of all sizes if you can get at them - not quite so good for ticks in nooks and crannies where the other devices would probably be better.	£3.95

13) How can I stop myself getting bitten?

This is one of the most important questions because prevention is always much better than cure:

- Be tick aware - know where to expect ticks so that you know when to take precautions to protect yourself. Typically ticks are found in long grass or leaf litter and on low plants. There are usually more ticks in woodland but they can also be found in fields and on moorland, especially where there are livestock and deer. However, they can also be found in other places where there is wildlife and plant cover, including town parks and gardens.

- Cover up - wear long sleeved tops and long trousers, and tuck your trouser legs into your socks. Wearing gaitors, tick proof over socks and insect repellent clothing can also help enormously.

- Use an insect repellent - insect repellent can help to protect any exposed areas. Clothing can also be treated with Bug Proof permethrin clothing spray to make it insect repellent.

And don't forget the action that should be taken after spending time in an area where there might be ticks:

- Check your body carefully for ticks - ticks can attach themselves almost anywhere on your body but they prefer warm, moist areas where blood flows close to the skin, such as the back of your knees and elbows, armpits, groin, behind your ears and on your scalp. Consequently, it's important to check yourself regularly all over if you have been in an area where ticks are likely to be.

- Don't take ticks home with you - check your clothing and pets for ticks to avoid bringing them inside.

- If you do find a tick - carefully remove it as soon as possible using a tick removal tool or fine tipped tweezers.

14) What about pets and other animals?

Pets and other animals are also prone to tick bites so they should be inspected regularly and any ticks found removed as soon as possible. If in doubt at any time talk to a vet about appropiate treatment.

15) Where can I find out more?

There are several different organisations that have been set up to provide information and support regarding ticks and tick bourne diseases:

BADA-UK - Borreliosis and Associated Diseases Awareness UK: www.bada-uk.org

LDA - Lyme Disease Action: www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk

Tick Alert: www.tickalert.org