As spring and summer season strategy and we spend extra time outdoors, we additionally threat 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 find out how to forestall tick bites is essential for staying secure throughout out of doors adventures. Right here’s find out how to avoid tick bites and benefit from the nice open air worry-free.
Are Tick Bites Harmful?
In a phrase, sure. At the least, they definitely 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 referred to as Borrelia burgdorferi.
Different much less widespread tick-borne infections embody 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 answerable for a number of thousand instances of tick-related sickness in the USA every year.
Lyme illness could cause all kinds of signs. Some folks develop a persistent fever, rashes, or complications. Others have persistent 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 problems.
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 Downside?
Instances of tick-borne illness are inclined to cluster across the northeastern United States. Nevertheless, in keeping with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), not less than one case of Lyme illness has occurred in each state. Take a look at this map of instances reported by the CDC from 1990 by means of 2021.
Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine have the very best incidence price of Lyme instances. Information from 2022 exhibits a mean of about 200 instances per 100,000 individuals occurred in these three states. Midwestern states are additionally experiencing elevated instances in recent times.
However Lyme isn’t restricted to the Northeast and the Midwest. As of 2015, virtually half the counties in the USA reported the presence of black-legged ticks. The CDC continues to watch the upward development.
Lyme illness is constant to unfold to different states, so be proactive and do what you’ll be able to to scale back your probabilities of tick bites. The spring and summer season are the very best threat, as ticks are busy hatching and searching for their subsequent meal.
Methods to Test for Ticks
Engorged ticks are straightforward to identify, however some might be as small as a pinhead. They like to cover in heat, moist, coated areas of the physique.
First, bathe off to take away any unattached ticks. Then, fastidiously examine for ticks by completely analyzing 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
Quite than play naturalist, I’ll level you to the most effective tick identification software I’ve discovered. This useful chart that includes pictures of ticks permits you to kind by area, kind, maturity phases, feeding phases, and even by the ailments varied varieties of ticks could transmit. The deer tick (black-legged tick) is the principle one to look out for, but it surely’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 may say I remained composed and knew precisely what to do, however that wasn’t the case in any respect…
After a couple of extra kids, I nonetheless don’t like coping with ticks, however I’ve realized what to do after I encounter one. In case you’re a seasoned mother or father or have pets, you’ve seemingly confronted this case earlier than. Nevertheless, should you haven’t, right here’s what to do:
Test to see if the tick is hooked up. In case you spot a small, flat tick crawling in your garments, pores and skin, or ground, it’s a superb signal, because it seemingly hasn’t bitten anybody or fed just lately. Nevertheless, should you encounter a big tick with a swollen, spherical physique, it’s extra regarding as it might have already fed and indifferent from a pet or particular person 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 laborious, I do know.) Don’t contact the tick along with your naked arms. As a substitute, use tweezers or a bit 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 elimination, 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. Nevertheless, these strategies can irritate the tick, making issues worse.
I don’t care a few tick’s emotions, but when the tick is irritated, it might probably vomit the contents of its abdomen (pathogens included!) into the pores and skin. That’s precisely what we don’t wish to occur!
For years, the correct tick elimination code has been to make use of a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and pull it straight out. Whereas this will work, it might probably additionally go away the tick’s head or mouth-parts embedded within the pores and skin.
(Sidenote: I can’t let you know the variety of instances I’ve felt an invisible tick crawling on me whereas penning this submit!)
What to Do As a substitute: Secure Tick Removing
As a substitute, use a tick-removal system 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 preserve one on my keychain throughout tick season.
In contrast to the tweezer technique, this system is more likely to lead to a clear elimination. The prongs on both aspect assist make sure the tick mouth doesn’t bend too far to the aspect and snap off whereas rotating.
In case you don’t have a tick elimination software, use tweezers, however remember to seize the tick as near the top/mouth as attainable.
Methods to Take away a Tick
- First, attempt to ignore the super-mom adrenaline pumping by means of your physique!
- Method the tick from the aspect with a tick system or tweezers.
- Slide the notched tick elimination system 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.
- Be sure that there are not 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 world. 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 regularly inaccurate. The ELISA check usually run by healthcare suppliers in native clinics typically comes again unfavourable when different checks present an an infection. In actual fact, it might miss over half of all Lyme instances. A Western Blot check could also be extra correct, however solely when interpreted by completely different requirements than the CDC’s.
Probably the most 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 purple blood cells. In addition they check for infections like anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain noticed fever. These co-infections can manifest signs just 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 presents complete Lyme panels. They’ll detect completely different borrelia species in addition to co-infections widespread with Lyme illness. These corporations permit sufferers to request a house check or ship the tick (lifeless or alive) to have it examined for infections.
Likelihood is seemingly that every one shall 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
In accordance with 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 web site (referred to as erythema migrans)
The bullseye rash doesn’t at all times happen, so it’s vital to test for different signs. Kids will typically develop tick paralysis, which causes short-term numbness and tingling. For a whole record 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.
In case you suspect tick-related sickness, seek the advice of with a health care provider immediately, 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 possibly can take some preventative measures to keep away from ticks within the first place, lowering your threat of tick- and different insect bites. The choices for battling ticks aren’t good (particularly should you favor to keep away from chemical compounds, as I do), and I can solely hope we’ve got extra choices for controlling the Lyme outbreak on the horizon.
Till then, listed here are a few of 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 “secure,” if it kills ticks, it in all probability isn’t good to your pets or children, not to mention the atmosphere and different innocent bugs in your yard.
There are fairly a couple of logical (and pure) steps to discourage ticks:
- Preserve the grass quick. Ticks are generally present in lawns, significantly in areas with tall grass, dense vegetation, and leaf litter. Preserve your garden well-maintained by mowing repeatedly 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 favor shaded, humid environments, so growing 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 can be pure tick predators. You should purchase 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 helpful 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, lowering the probability of ticks attaching to people.
- Get yard chickens! In addition to 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 moderately secure choice at decrease concentrations, it’s not really useful for pregnant girls or kids below six months. Many research additionally level to attainable unintended 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 particularly 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 which will assist repel ticks whereas supporting the immune system. Lyme skilled Stephen Buhner recommends adults take 1,000 mg of Astragalus day by day to keep off ticks.
3. Test for Ticks Day by day
I do know it’s not enjoyable, however, with follow, it turns into a behavior. Put a full-length mirror within the lavatory, and/or educate children to test themselves and one another. The black-legged tick nymph most frequently transmits Lyme illness, and it’s solely concerning the dimension of a poppy seed. That is probably the most complete record I’ve discovered for find out how to conduct a full tick test.
I do know it’s not straightforward to get children 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 arms/brush tooth step. This web site has a free exercise e-book for educating younger kids find out how to test for ticks.
4. Apply Good Mountain climbing Hygiene
Ticks love wooded trails, tall grassy fields, and areas with dense brush.
However I refuse to let ticks spoil our love for mountaineering, tenting, and simply being open air in the summertime. Be sensible when mountaineering and observe the following pointers for avoiding ticks:
- Put on protecting clothes: Put on long-sleeved shirts when mountaineering in a high-tick space and tuck pants into socks. This follow can assist forestall ticks from crawling onto uncovered pores and skin. Mild-colored clothes additionally helps make ticks extra seen.
- Select excessive boots slightly than athletic sneakers: Once more, you’ll wish to keep away from simply accessible pores and skin.
- Put on a wide-brimmed hat: Broad-brimmed hats can preserve ticks from crawling from tall brush onto the again of your neck or hair.
- Think about permethrin clothes: I don’t love the thought of utilizing chemical compounds, however I like the thought 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 automotive after a hike, or use a sticky lint curler on garments to catch tiny ticks.
- Head to the laundry room! Take away mountaineering garments and put them instantly within the dryer for 10 minutes on excessive warmth to kill ticks.
- End up with a superb soak: Bathe or bathe as quickly as attainable after mountaineering. Make certain to take action inside 2 hours of coming inside.
It would appear to be a wierd household exercise, however we preserve robes within the mudroom! That method, we will strip off after mountaineering, throw all the pieces within the dryer, and head proper for the showers.
5. Defend Pets
Pets are additionally inclined to tick-borne ailments, and it’s typically more difficult to find ticks due to all that fur. Test canine and cats completely earlier than permitting them in the home. You may as well strive making use of a couple of drops of geranium important oil round a canine’s collar however don’t use this technique (or any important oils) on cats.
Closing Ideas
Whereas these strategies can assist cut back your threat of tick bites, it’s nonetheless necessary to do common tick checks, particularly throughout peak tick season (Could by means of August). In case you discover a tick hooked up to your pores and skin, take away it immediately –the suitable method– to scale back your threat of tick-borne ailments. In case you 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 may have different concepts to stop them?
