By Alabama Public Radio
Decatur, AL – Dwight Garrison of Decatur remains on a respirator in critical condition after being bitten by a tick from his front yard. Garrison discovered the tick on his abdomen after working in his yard June 17 and removed it with the heat of a match flame. His wife says they later found out that is the wrong way to remove a tick. About 10 days, later Garrison developed a rash and fever. He appeared to recover after taking antibiotics, but July 21 he began experiencing flu-like symptoms. Tests showed he had Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which affects about 550 people in the U.S. each year and is fatal in about 3 percent to 5 percent of cases. Garrison is now at UAB Medical Center on a respirator with a feeding tube, continual kidney dialysis and numerous antibiotics.
Tick bites can also carry Lyme disease. The best way to remove a tick after it has bitten it to grasp it firmly with tweezers and gently pull it straight out. If the body separates from the head, be sure to also remove the head. It is NOT recommended to use gasoline or nail polish to remove a tick, cover the tick with oil or use burning matches.