As spring and summer time strategy and we spend extra time outdoors, we additionally danger encountering ticks. Sadly, ticks aren’t simply biting bugs (technically, they don’t chew -they sting). However they’re additionally infamous vectors for diseases like Lyme illness and Rocky Mountain noticed fever.
Understanding easy methods to forestall tick bites is essential for staying protected throughout outside adventures. Right here’s easy methods to avoid tick bites and benefit from the nice outdoor worry-free.
Are Tick Bites Harmful?
In a phrase, sure. At the very least, they actually might be! Many people are conscious of the seriousness and widespread epidemic of Lyme illness, which is now extra widespread than breast most cancers. Whereas it’s attainable to contract Lyme in different methods, black-legged ticks are overwhelmingly accountable. Lyme illness comes from spirochete (spiral-shaped) micro organism known as Borrelia burgdorferi.
Different much less widespread tick-borne infections embrace noticed fever rickettsiosis (together with Rocky Mountain noticed fever), anaplasmosis, and babesiosis. There’s additionally ehrlichiosis, Colorado tick fever, and tularemia. It’s even attainable to get tick-borne encephalitis, aka, mind irritation.
Many of those infections trigger the identical signs as Lyme illness. Though these are much less widespread than Lyme, they’re chargeable for a number of thousand circumstances of tick-related sickness in the US annually.
Lyme illness may cause all kinds of signs. Some folks develop a persistent fever, rashes, or complications. Others have continual joint ache and swelling which may be misdiagnosed. Those that are particularly delicate could have allergic reactions to the micro organism. Some could even develop extreme or debilitating neurological issues.
Lyme illness is an particularly troubling situation as a result of it may be troublesome to diagnose. Dr. Jay Davidson explains extra on this podcast.
The place Are Ticks a Drawback?
Circumstances of tick-borne illness are likely to cluster across the northeastern United States. Nonetheless, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), a minimum of one case of Lyme illness has occurred in each state. Take a look at this map of circumstances reported by the CDC from 1990 via 2021.
Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine have the very best incidence charge of Lyme circumstances. Knowledge from 2022 exhibits a median of about 200 circumstances per 100,000 individuals occurred in these three states. Midwestern states are additionally experiencing elevated circumstances lately.
However Lyme isn’t restricted to the Northeast and the Midwest. As of 2015, nearly half the counties in the US reported the presence of black-legged ticks. The CDC continues to observe the upward pattern.
Lyme illness is continuous to unfold to different states, so be proactive and do what you possibly can to scale back your probabilities of tick bites. The spring and summer time are the very best danger, as ticks are busy hatching and searching for their subsequent meal.
How you can Test for Ticks
Engorged ticks are simple to identify, however some might be as small as a pinhead. They like to cover in heat, moist, lined areas of the physique.
First, bathe off to take away any unattached ticks. Then, rigorously examine for ticks by totally inspecting the hair and again of the neck, utilizing your fingertips. Listed here are another locations ticks like to cover out:
- Behind arms
- Behind the knees
- In or across the ears
- Stomach button
- Between the legs
- Across the waist
Moderately than play naturalist, I’ll level you to the perfect tick identification software I’ve discovered. This helpful chart that includes photos of ticks permits you to type by area, kind, maturity levels, feeding levels, and even by the ailments numerous kinds of ticks could transmit. The deer tick (black-legged tick) is the principle one to look out for, nevertheless it’s not the one one which causes issues.
What to Do If You Discover a Tick
I’ll always remember the day I leaned in to take a look at a darkish spot on my child’s head, solely to discover a TICK feasting on her scalp. I want I might say I remained composed and knew precisely what to do, however that wasn’t the case in any respect…
After just a few extra youngsters, I nonetheless don’t like coping with ticks, however I’ve realized what to do after I encounter one. If you happen to’re a seasoned mum or dad or have pets, you’ve doubtless confronted this example earlier than. Nonetheless, if you happen to haven’t, right here’s what to do:
Test to see if the tick is hooked up. If you happen to spot a small, flat tick crawling in your garments, pores and skin, or ground, it’s a very good signal, because it doubtless hasn’t bitten anybody or fed not too long ago. Nonetheless, if you happen to encounter a big tick with a swollen, spherical physique, it’s extra regarding as it could have already fed and indifferent from a pet or individual within the dwelling.
If unattached, don’t attempt to kill it. If the tick is unattached, resist the urge to crush, burn, or destroy it. (It’s exhausting, I do know.) Don’t contact the tick along with your naked fingers. As an alternative, use tweezers or a chunk of tape to seize it. Put the tick in a sealed plastic bag or small jar within the freezer. This each kills the tick and preserves it for identification if signs of Lyme illness develop.
If hooked up, right here’s what to do (and to not do):
How NOT to Take away a Tick
There are many dwelling treatment options for tick removing, however these could do extra hurt than good. Burning the tick, utilizing important oils, or greasing it with petroleum jelly could sound like good concepts. Nonetheless, these methods can irritate the tick, making issues worse.
I don’t care a few tick’s emotions, but when the tick is irritated, it will probably vomit the contents of its abdomen (pathogens included!) into the pores and skin. That’s precisely what we don’t need to occur!
For years, the correct tick removing code has been to make use of a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and pull it straight out. Whereas this could work, it will probably additionally depart the tick’s head or mouth-parts embedded within the pores and skin.
(Sidenote: I can not inform you the variety of occasions I’ve felt an invisible tick crawling on me whereas penning this submit!)
What to Do As an alternative: Protected Tick Removing
As an alternative, use a tick-removal gadget like this one. It resembles a spork. You insert it between the tick and the pores and skin, then twist gently till the tick releases. I maintain one on my keychain throughout tick season.
Not like the tweezer methodology, this gadget is more likely to lead to a clear removing. The prongs on both aspect assist make sure the tick mouth doesn’t bend too far to the aspect and snap off whereas rotating.
If you happen to don’t have a tick removing software, use tweezers, however be sure you seize the tick as near the top/mouth as attainable.
How you can Take away a Tick
- First, attempt to ignore the super-mom adrenaline pumping via your physique!
- Method the tick from the aspect with a tick gadget or tweezers.
- Slide the notched tick removing gadget beneath the bottom of the tick head and the pores and skin. If utilizing tweezers, apply them firmly as near the mouth/pores and skin as attainable.
- With a agency, slight lifting movement, gently spin the tick remover till the tick detaches itself. If utilizing tweezers, pull up firmly however constantly. Don’t jerk or twist.
- Put the tick in a sealed bag, mark it with the date, and put it within the freezer. This kills it and saves it for identification if Lyme signs come up.
- Make it possible for there aren’t any tick elements left embedded within the pores and skin. If there are, pulling it out with tweezers like a splinter or utilizing a drawing salve might be useful.
- Wash the chew space with cleaning soap and water and apply an antimicrobial, like rubbing alcohol, to the realm. Diluted lavender or this germ-fighting important oil mix are additionally good choices.
How/The place to Ship a Tick For Testing
Testing for tick-borne sickness in people is incessantly inaccurate. The ELISA take a look at sometimes run by healthcare suppliers in native clinics usually comes again damaging when different checks present an an infection. In truth, it could miss over half of all Lyme circumstances. A Western Blot take a look at could also be extra correct, however solely when interpreted by totally different requirements than the CDC’s.
One of the crucial trusted laboratories for Lyme illness testing is Igenex.. Along with Lyme, in addition they display for different tick-borne diseases. One instance is ehrlichiosis, which targets white blood cells. One other is babesiosis, which impacts crimson blood cells. Additionally they take a look at for infections like anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain noticed fever. These co-infections can manifest signs much like Lyme illness.
For a extra budget-friendly various, there’s Vibrant Wellness. Whereas similar to Igenex, it comes at a decrease value. Vibrant Wellness provides complete Lyme panels. They will detect totally different borrelia species in addition to co-infections widespread with Lyme illness. These corporations enable sufferers to request a house take a look at or ship the tick (lifeless or alive) to have it examined for infections.
Chances are high doubtless that each one will probably be nicely if the an infection is caught early and dealt with correctly. However that stated, right here’s what to search for:
Signs of Tick-Borne Sickness
Based on the CDC, attainable signs of a tick-borne an infection are:
- A relapsing fever and chills (flu-like signs)
- Achy joints or muscle aches
- Headache
- Fatigue
- A big round rash that appears like a bullseye across the chew website (known as erythema migrans)
The bullseye rash doesn’t all the time happen, so it’s crucial to test for different signs. Youngsters will generally develop tick paralysis, which causes momentary numbness and tingling. For an entire checklist of signs, see the CDC’s tick web page.
Dr. Jay Davidson provides {that a} sore sternum (the bone over the breast) could also be one other signal of contracting Lyme.
If you happen to suspect tick-related sickness, seek the advice of with a health care provider instantly, as early intervention could assist. Dr. Davidson recommends taking Ledum palustre, a homeopathic treatment, as a pure first help. An alternative choice is to use andrographis tincture on the recent chew to assist forestall illness transmission all through the physique.
Tick Prevention Is the Greatest Treatment (for Now)
You may take some preventative measures to keep away from ticks within the first place, decreasing your danger of tick- and different insect bites. The choices for battling ticks aren’t good (particularly if you happen to want to keep away from chemical substances, as I do), and I can solely hope we’ve got extra choices for controlling the Lyme outbreak on the horizon.
Till then, listed below are among the steps we will take at the moment to let our children go adventuring with out fear:
1. Tick-Proof Your Yard
It’s in all probability no shock that I don’t suggest skilled chemical sprays for the yard, even to scale back ticks. Whereas many corporations tout this as “protected,” if it kills ticks, it in all probability isn’t good on your pets or youngsters, not to mention the setting and different innocent bugs in your yard.
There are fairly just a few logical (and pure) steps to discourage ticks:
- Hold the grass quick. Ticks are generally present in lawns, notably in areas with tall grass, dense vegetation, and leaf litter. Hold your garden well-maintained by mowing often and eradicating tall grass, brush, and leaf litter.
- Prune dense landscaping. Trim again overhanging branches and prune shrubs to permit extra daylight to achieve the bottom. Ticks want shaded, humid environments, so rising daylight publicity could make the garden much less hospitable for them.
- Mulch with cedar chips. Research present ticks and cedar oil don’t combine. Since ticks crawl and don’t fly, strive mulching the perimeter of your yard with cedar chips or between your yard and grassy areas to discourage them from crossing.
- Strive including nematodes. Nematodes are microscopic worms which might be pure tick predators. You should buy them on-line or at backyard shops and introduce them into your yard, backyard, or surrounding wooded areas whereas watering. Don’t fear — They’re non-toxic and don’t hurt useful bugs like ladybugs. However they could be a massive assist in controlling tick populations.
- Think about Tick Tubes: Tick tubes are cardboard cylinders full of handled cotton that mice convey again to their nests. The handled cotton kills ticks on the mice, decreasing the probability of ticks attaching to people.
- Get yard chickens! Moreover offering recent eggs, they eat ticks! Chickens are pure foragers and can peck at bugs they encounter, together with ticks. They can assist cut back ticks within the areas surrounding your home.
2. Use Pure Bug Repellent
Though the EWG (Environmental Working Group) concludes DEET is a fairly protected choice at decrease concentrations, it’s not really helpful for pregnant girls or youngsters below six months. Many research additionally level to attainable unwanted side effects from utilizing DEET and different insect repellents like permethrin, together with dizziness, complications, and even seizures.
Whereas I take ticks and the specter of Lyme illness severely, I favor utilizing pure bug repellents, particularly since research present important oils like citronella might be as efficient as DEET. My pure bug spray recipe makes use of a number of important oils proven in research to repel ticks: geranium, citronella, and lemon eucalyptus.
Pure bug repellent is very helpful (and efficient) for repelling these tiny nymph ticks you can not see in a tick test. In any case, it’s higher to be distasteful to ticks so that you don’t get bitten within the first place!
Taking sure herbs as a complement could assist from the within out. Astragalus is an herb from Conventional Chinese language Medication that will assist repel ticks whereas supporting the immune system. Lyme knowledgeable Stephen Buhner recommends adults take 1,000 mg of Astragalus every day to chase away ticks.
3. Test for Ticks Every day
I do know it’s not enjoyable, however, with observe, it turns into a behavior. Put a full-length mirror within the lavatory, and/or educate youngsters to test themselves and one another. The black-legged tick nymph most frequently transmits Lyme illness, and it’s solely concerning the measurement of a poppy seed. That is essentially the most complete checklist I’ve discovered for easy methods to conduct a full tick test.
I do know it’s not simple to get youngsters to cease what they’re doing and sit nonetheless, so we construct it into the routine earlier than lunch, dinner, and bedtime, together with the wash fingers/brush enamel step. This website has a free exercise e-book for educating younger youngsters easy methods to test for ticks.
4. Apply Good Climbing Hygiene
Ticks love wooded trails, tall grassy fields, and areas with dense brush.
However I refuse to let ticks spoil our love for mountain climbing, tenting, and simply being outdoor in the summertime. Be good when mountain climbing and observe the following tips for avoiding ticks:
- Put on protecting clothes: Put on long-sleeved shirts when mountain climbing in a high-tick space and tuck pants into socks. This observe can assist forestall ticks from crawling onto uncovered pores and skin. Mild-colored clothes additionally helps make ticks extra seen.
- Select excessive boots quite than athletic footwear: Once more, you’ll need to keep away from simply accessible pores and skin.
- Put on a wide-brimmed hat: Huge-brimmed hats can maintain ticks from crawling from tall brush onto the again of your neck or hair.
- Think about permethrin clothes: I don’t love the concept of utilizing chemical substances, however I really like the concept of Lyme illness even much less! Permethrin is an artificial model of a pure insecticide present in chrysanthemum flowers. It kills ticks on contact and could also be value contemplating for these adventuring in high-risk areas.
- Keep on the paths: Ticks love the comb and tall grass. They’re simply ready so that you can enterprise off into the rugged terrain!
- Do an after-hike tick test: Test for ticks earlier than getting within the automobile after a hike, or use a sticky lint curler on garments to catch tiny ticks.
- Head to the laundry room! Take away mountain climbing garments and put them instantly within the dryer for 10 minutes on excessive warmth to kill ticks.
- End up with a very good soak: Bathe or bathe as quickly as attainable after mountain climbing. Be certain to take action inside 2 hours of coming inside.
It’d seem to be a wierd household exercise, however we maintain robes within the mudroom! That manner, we will strip off after mountain climbing, throw every little thing within the dryer, and head proper for the showers.
5. Shield Pets
Pets are additionally prone to tick-borne ailments, and it’s usually tougher to find ticks due to all that fur. Test canines and cats totally earlier than permitting them in the home. You can even strive making use of just a few drops of geranium important oil round a canine’s collar however don’t use this methodology (or any important oils) on cats.
Remaining Ideas
Whereas these strategies can assist cut back your danger of tick bites, it’s nonetheless essential to do common tick checks, particularly throughout peak tick season (Might via August). If you happen to discover a tick hooked up to your pores and skin, take away it instantly –the correct manner– to scale back your danger of tick-borne ailments. If you happen to do develop signs, like rash, fever, or muscle aches, search medical consideration instantly.
Have you ever ever had a tick chew? What did you do? Do you’ve gotten different concepts to stop them?
