Tick Bite

Ticks, which can be seen in many areas over the world, are the arthropots feeding from both human and animals blood. Today 850 tick species are known in the family of Argasidae and Ixodidae. From the point of disease transmission, the general characteristic of ticks is their need to feeding with blood in order to pass next stage of development. They can feed from all vertebrates without fishes. The mechanism of disease transmission according to tick bites has not been understood completely yet. Ticks live in wet and copse areas. Pets can carry ticks in their bodies when they go to fields. Ticks inject a toxin that causes a local irritation or mild allergic reaction during the bite. However, most of the tick bites cause either fewer symptoms or none. Ticks should be removed as soon as possible while seen. None of the eradication methods have been successful yet. There are 3 different strategies to prevent tick-borne diseases defined as environmental, intimate and prophylactic. [TAF Prev Med Bull. 2008; 7(2): 173-178]