Parents often spend time checking for bumps scratches and insect bites after their children play outdoors. Occasionally they may discover something more concerning. They may find a tick attached to the skin. These small parasites are common in grassy fields wooded areas gardens and even some urban parks.
What Exactly Is a Tick?
Ticks are tiny arachnids. That classification means they are more closely related to spiders than to insects. They survive by attaching themselves to animals or humans and feeding on blood. Because of their small size especially in younger stages ticks can remain unnoticed for hours or even days.
A tick often attaches itself to warm hidden areas of the body. Those areas include the scalp. Those areas include the space behind the ears. Those areas include the space under the arms. Those areas include the area around the waist. Those areas include the space behind the knees. Children are particularly vulnerable because they frequently play in outdoor environments where ticks live.
