What To Do If Bitten By A Tick In Chicago
We have at least fifteen species of ticks in Chicago; most of them aren't considered a threat to humans. The ones that are, vary in how much of a threat they present.
American dog ticks and brown dog ticks have a preference for the blood of domesticated canines. If these ticks get into your home, they'll cause more trouble for your furry family members than for you. But they can and do bite humans in certain circumstances, and they are known to transmit harmful diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Two other ticks we commonly see in Chicago homes are blacklegged ticks and Lone Star ticks. These ticks readily attach to humans and both can present a medical concern. Blacklegged ticks are linked to Lyme disease transmission and Lone Star ticks have a connection to red meat food allergy.
While neither is able to live in your Chicago home permanently, they can pose a threat when they're brought in by your pets or by rodents that get into your home.
Tick Disease Transmission
When considering tick-borne illnesses, it is important to understand how ticks spread diseases. It isn't as simple as being stung. A tick doesn't immediately inject disease into you. They carry microorganisms that pass from the tick into you by way of the tick's salivary glands. Your body has the ability to combat these microorganisms to a certain extent, depending on how strong your immune system is. So a few of these organisms aren't likely to cause you to be sick from a disease.
In the case of Lyme disease, it can take 36 to 48 hours for the bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi, to enter your body in a sufficient amount to cause the symptoms of Lyme disease.
Early Detection
If you're reading this, you may already know that early detection is key to preventing sickness and symptoms. You should frequently check your pets and yourself, especially when coming into your home after being in the woods or after walking in tall grass.
Watch For Symptoms
There are many suggestions for treating tick wounds, but we don't offer these as it is not our expertise. We can, however, share with you some of the symptoms associated with tick-borne diseases. It is important to watch for these signs as they can give you early warning to a potentially serious response.
- Lyme is often associated with a bullseye rash, but this rash is not always present.
- Other tick-borne diseases can cause a rash to develop near the bite wound or across the whole body. The more severe the rash, the more severe the reaction. If you're experiencing a severe reaction, seek medical attention.
- Some tick-borne diseases cause flu-like symptoms. You may experience a fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, weakness, muscle aches, a headache, nausea, or vomiting.
- You could experience pain, swelling, or blisters.
- In severe cases, you may have difficulty breathing.
- Some tick-borne diseases lead to chronic fatigue and medical complications.
Hear From Our Happy Customers
At Aerex Pest Control, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our customers have to say about working with us.
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Mark arrived early after calling to let me know we could start earlier if that worked with my schedule, it did. He was friendly and thorough.- Meredith C.
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Mike is very friendly, cooperative. He knows our house well as to where there are concerns for critter control. We are very happy with Aerex.- Judith N.
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Mike showed up on time and was friendly with our crazy dogs and familiar with the house, even though he hasn’t been here in a while. Can’t ask for more for a semi-annual service and serviceman.- Cissy G.
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We've used Aerex for 20+ years at 2 locations. They are prompt, courteous & effective. Our regular service person, Wally, listens to current problems & applies the correct solutions to the problem. If needed within 30 days, a second visit is schedu- Harry S.
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Great company with professional people - such a pleasure working with! We have been using Aerex Pest Control at our properties for 10+ years and we couldn't be happier with the choice we made. The team from the office is always friendly, ready to help. The- Mi B.
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Jordan our technician was great. He’s very helpful and willing to assist us with dealing with our problem. He explains our issues and helps in determine what needs to be done.- Gary B.
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I have been using Aerex for over 20 years. Every tech that has come to our house has been incredibly knowledgeable, kind and respectful. They get the job done efficiently and always go the extra mile. They are all dog lovers too so that works when my dog g- Sheila B.
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I especially like Tony who has been doing my house for over 10 years. He is very very trustworthy and clean and pleasant. Please let him know what l say here.- Linda T.
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