Pet owners are being warned to be watchful, as one of the worst seasons in recent years hits areas of the South Coast, the Eurobodalla RSPCA reporting an “extraordinarily large number” of animal fatalities and incidents in the tick-prone region in recent weeks.

Locally the danger to animals is also there but according to NSW Ambulance, humans also need to be aware of the small blood suckers with a number of people having severe allergic reactions, especially to the paralysis ticks.

Shoalhaven Ambulance acting duty operations manager Scott Styles said paramedics had treated at least six people in the past month who had suffered severe reactions to tick bites.

“I don’t know why but the indications are they [ticks] are extremely virulent at the moment,” he said.

“I have a feeling it could be something to do with the dry season we are having or the weather but I have no evidence to back that up.”

Read more: Tick season turning into a nightmare for some

He said paramedics had treated people with reactions to ticks along the coast, from north of Nowra to Ulladulla.

“We have had to administer adrenaline due to anaphylactic reactions,” he said.

“One person required up to four doses of adrenaline, which is very unusual.

“It is unusual to see paramedics administering adrenalin for tick bites, usually oral antihistamine do the job, so these attacks were severe.”

He said paralysis ticks were far different to the larger bush or cattle ticks.

“Bush ticks or cattle ticks are big and can grow up to the size of jelly beans,” he said “paralysis ticks are small and can be extremely difficult to find on a victim.

“They might only be small but they pack a punch. For a very small bug they have one hell of a whack to them.”

Symptoms of a tick bite include itching around the site to start, which is a minor reaction.

A serious reaction could end up with a widespread rash all over your body, swelling of the the tongue and throat.

“It can be a feeling of your throat is closing over,” Styles said.

“You could feel short of breath.

“Sometimes reactions are immediate but some could take hours, sometimes even well after the tick has been found or removed.”

He said if you find a tick on your body the best practice was to remove it as soon as possible.

“We have specific removers that we can slid under the tick’s head and pull it out,” he said.

“It is Important you don’t squeeze the tick or leave the head in, you must remove the whole tick.

“There is a lot of anecdotal evidence of other methods of removing ticks, like smothering them in vaseline so they can't breathe but I’ve never heard any evidence of any of those old wives tales really working.

“Be mindful of the possible reactions, if you start getting shortness of breath or your throat swelling, call triple zero immediately.

“If you have been out in the bush or in a bush area and start feeling itchy look or get someone to see if you have a tick, especially if it is on your head.

“Ticks love to get into people’s hair and they are very hard to find. Legs are also a popular target.

“If you have a tick remove it as soon as possible. If you don't have specific removers a pair of tweezers will do the job.”