In identifying a tick, be aware that there are three characteristics that distinguish ticks from insects: In ticks, the head, abdomen and thorax are connected; ticks do not have antennae; and ticks in the nymph and adult stages of life have four pairs of legs.

There are two types of ticks: hard ticks and soft ticks. Hard ticks have a dorsal shield and soft ticks do not.

Infected ticks can transmit Lyme disease, babesiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and ehrlichiosis.

Watch out for a red rash surrounding the tick bite, which may indicate Lyme disease. Flu-like symptoms may develop but can be prevented with early detection.

Early signs of babesiosis are fatigue, chills, fever and jaundice. Ehrlichiosis has similar symptoms to both Lyme disease and babesiosis, such as fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, and chills. Symptoms of Rocky Mountain fever are fever, muscle pain, chills, and headache. Seek medical attention as soon as possible to avoid complications.

To prevent being bitten by a tick, wear long sleeves and long pants, with pants tucked into socks. Wear light-colored clothing and inspect body for ticks. Wear insect repellent.

To remove a tick, grab the tick by its mouthparts with a tweezer and pull the tick out of the skin. If you just use fingers, protect them from fluids with a tissue.