As spring and summer time strategy and we spend extra time exterior, 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 the best way to stop tick bites is essential for staying secure throughout outside adventures. Right here’s the best way to avoid tick bites and benefit from the nice outdoor worry-free.
Are Tick Bites Harmful?
In a phrase, sure. Not less than, they actually could be! Many people are conscious of the seriousness and widespread epidemic of Lyme illness, which is now extra frequent than breast most cancers. Whereas it’s doable 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 frequent 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 doable to get tick-borne encephalitis, aka, mind irritation.
Many of those infections trigger the identical signs as Lyme illness. Though these are much less frequent than Lyme, they’re liable for a number of thousand instances of tick-related sickness in the US every year.
Lyme illness could cause all kinds of signs. Some folks develop a persistent fever, rashes, or complications. Others have continual joint ache and swelling that could 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 Downside?
Circumstances of tick-borne illness are inclined to cluster across the northeastern United States. Nevertheless, in accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), no 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 way of 2021.
Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine have the best incidence charge of Lyme instances. Knowledge 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, nearly half the counties in the US reported the presence of black-legged ticks. The CDC continues to observe the upward development.
Lyme illness is constant to unfold to different states, so be proactive and do what you may to scale back your possibilities of tick bites. The spring and summer time are the best threat, as ticks are busy hatching and on the lookout for their subsequent meal.
Learn how to Verify for Ticks
Engorged ticks are simple to identify, however some could 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
Slightly than play naturalist, I’ll level you to one of the best tick identification instrument I’ve discovered. This helpful chart that includes pictures of ticks means that you can kind by area, kind, maturity phases, feeding phases, and even by the illnesses numerous sorts of ticks could transmit. The deer tick (black-legged tick) is the primary one to look out for, however 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 a number of extra youngsters, I nonetheless don’t like coping with ticks, however I’ve realized what to do once I encounter one. In case you’re a seasoned mum or dad or have pets, you’ve doubtless confronted this case earlier than. Nevertheless, if you happen to haven’t, right here’s what to do:
Verify to see if the tick is connected. In case you spot a small, flat tick crawling in your garments, pores and skin, or flooring, it’s a very good signal, because it doubtless hasn’t bitten anybody or fed lately. Nevertheless, 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 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 arduous, I do know.) Don’t contact the tick along with your naked palms. 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 connected, 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. 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 may 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 right tick removing code has been to make use of a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and pull it straight out. Whereas this may work, it may additionally depart the tick’s head or mouth-parts embedded within the pores and skin.
(Sidenote: I can not inform you the variety of instances I’ve felt an invisible tick crawling on me whereas penning this publish!)
What to Do As an alternative: Protected Tick Elimination
As an alternative, use a tick-removal machine 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.
In contrast to the tweezer technique, this machine 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.
In case you don’t have a tick removing instrument, use tweezers, however be sure you seize the tick as near the top/mouth as doable.
Learn how to Take away a Tick
- First, attempt to ignore the super-mom adrenaline pumping by way of your physique!
- Strategy the tick from the aspect with a tick machine or tweezers.
- Slide the notched tick removing machine 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 doable.
- 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 are not any tick components left embedded within the pores and skin. If there are, pulling it out with tweezers like a splinter or utilizing a drawing salve could 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 ceaselessly inaccurate. The ELISA check sometimes run by healthcare suppliers in native clinics usually comes again adverse when different checks present an an infection. In actual fact, it could 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.
One of the vital 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. Additionally 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 different, there’s Vibrant Wellness. Whereas similar to Igenex, it comes at a decrease value. Vibrant Wellness affords complete Lyme panels. They’ll detect completely different borrelia species in addition to co-infections frequent with Lyme illness. These firms enable sufferers to request a house check or ship the tick (useless or alive) to have it examined for infections.
Chances are high doubtless that each one will likely be properly if the an infection is caught early and dealt with correctly. However that mentioned, right here’s what to search for:
Signs of Tick-Borne Sickness
In accordance with the CDC, doable 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 (referred to as erythema migrans)
The bullseye rash doesn’t at all times happen, so it’s important to test for different signs. Kids will generally develop tick paralysis, which causes non permanent numbness and tingling. For an entire 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 physician instantly, as early intervention could assist. Dr. Davidson recommends taking Ledum palustre, a homeopathic treatment, as a pure first help. Another choice is to use andrographis tincture on the recent chew to assist stop 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, decreasing your threat of tick- and different insect bites. The choices for battling ticks aren’t good (particularly if you happen to desire to keep away from chemical compounds, as I do), and I can solely hope now we have extra choices for controlling the Lyme outbreak on the horizon.
Till then, listed here are among the steps we are able to take in the present day to let our youngsters go adventuring with out fear:
1. Tick-Proof Your Yard
It’s most likely no shock that I don’t advocate skilled chemical sprays for the yard, even to scale back ticks. Whereas many firms tout this as “secure,” if it kills ticks, it most likely isn’t good on your pets or children, not to mention the setting and different innocent bugs in your yard.
There are fairly a number of logical (and pure) steps to discourage ticks:
- Preserve the grass quick. Ticks are generally present in lawns, notably 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 desire 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.
- Attempt including nematodes. Nematodes are microscopic worms which might 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 useful bugs like ladybugs. However they could be a large assist in controlling tick populations.
- Think about Tick Tubes: Tick tubes are cardboard cylinders full of handled cotton that mice deliver again to their nests. The handled cotton kills ticks on the mice, decreasing the chance 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 may help cut back ticks within the areas surrounding your own 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 youngsters beneath six months. Many research additionally level to doable unwanted 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 critically, I favor utilizing pure bug repellents, particularly since research present important oils like citronella could 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’t see in a tick test. In spite of everything, 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 Drugs which will assist repel ticks whereas supporting the immune system. Lyme knowledgeable Stephen Buhner recommends adults take 1,000 mg of Astragalus day by day to chase away ticks.
3. Verify for Ticks Each day
I do know it’s not enjoyable, however, with follow, it turns into a behavior. Put a full-length mirror within the rest room, 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 the best way to conduct a full tick test.
I do know it’s not simple 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 palms/brush enamel step. This website has a free exercise e-book for instructing younger youngsters the best way to test for ticks.
4. Follow 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 outdoor in the summertime. Be sensible when mountaineering and comply with 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 may help stop ticks from crawling onto uncovered pores and skin. Mild-colored clothes additionally helps make ticks extra seen.
- Select excessive boots relatively than athletic sneakers: Once more, you’ll wish to keep away from simply accessible pores and skin.
- Put on a wide-brimmed hat: Extensive-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 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 price 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: Verify 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 mountaineering 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 doable after mountaineering. Make certain to take action inside 2 hours of coming inside.
It’d appear to be an odd household exercise, however we maintain robes within the mudroom! That manner, we are able to strip off after mountaineering, throw the whole lot within the dryer, and head proper for the showers.
5. Defend Pets
Pets are additionally prone to tick-borne illnesses, and it’s usually tougher to find ticks due to all that fur. Verify canine and cats totally earlier than permitting them in the home. You may also strive making use of a number of drops of geranium important oil round a canine’s collar however don’t use this technique (or any important oils) on cats.
Last Ideas
Whereas these strategies may help cut back your threat of tick bites, it’s nonetheless vital to do common tick checks, particularly throughout peak tick season (Might by way of August). In case you discover a tick connected to your pores and skin, take away it instantly –the fitting manner– to scale back your threat of tick-borne illnesses. 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 might have different concepts to stop them?