As spring and summer season method 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 learn how to forestall tick bites is essential for staying secure throughout outside adventures. Right here’s learn how to avoid tick bites and benefit from the nice open air worry-free.
Are Tick Bites Harmful?
In a phrase, sure. No less than, they actually may 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 liable for a number of thousand circumstances of tick-related sickness in the US every year.
Lyme illness may cause all kinds of signs. Some individuals develop a persistent fever, rashes, or complications. Others have persistent 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 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 Drawback?
Circumstances of tick-borne illness are inclined to cluster across the northeastern United States. Nonetheless, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), at the least one case of Lyme illness has occurred in each state. Take a look at this map of circumstances reported by the CDC from 1990 by 2021.
Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine have the best incidence price of Lyme circumstances. Knowledge from 2022 reveals a mean 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 development.
Lyme illness is continuous to unfold to different states, so be proactive and do what you may to cut back your possibilities of tick bites. The spring and summer season are the best danger, as ticks are busy hatching and searching for their subsequent meal.
Tips on how to Test for Ticks
Engorged ticks are straightforward to identify, however some may 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, rigorously examine for ticks by totally analyzing the hair and again of the neck, utilizing your fingertips. Listed below 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
Somewhat than play naturalist, I’ll level you to one of the best tick identification software I’ve discovered. This useful chart that includes photos of ticks means that you can kind by area, kind, maturity phases, feeding phases, and even by the illnesses numerous forms of ticks could transmit. The deer tick (black-legged tick) is the primary 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 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 discovered what to do after I encounter one. In the event you’re a seasoned dad or mum or have pets, you’ve possible confronted this case earlier than. Nonetheless, in case you haven’t, right here’s what to do:
Test to see if the tick is hooked up. In the event you spot a small, flat tick crawling in your garments, pores and skin, or ground, it’s a very good signal, because it possible hasn’t bitten anybody or fed not too long ago. Nonetheless, in case 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 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 laborious, I do know.) Don’t contact the tick together with your naked palms. As an alternative, 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 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 strategies can irritate the tick, making issues worse.
I don’t care a few tick’s emotions, but when the tick is irritated, it could actually 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 removing code has been to make use of a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and pull it straight out. Whereas this may work, it could actually additionally depart the tick’s head or mouth-parts embedded within the pores and skin.
(Sidenote: I can not let you know the variety of occasions I’ve felt an invisible tick crawling on me whereas penning this publish!)
What to Do As an alternative: Secure Tick Elimination
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 hold one on my keychain throughout tick season.
In contrast to the tweezer technique, this gadget is more likely to end in 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 the event you don’t have a tick removing software, use tweezers, however be sure you seize the tick as near the top/mouth as attainable.
Tips on how to Take away a Tick
- First, attempt to ignore the super-mom adrenaline pumping by your physique!
- Strategy 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 repeatedly. 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.
- Ensure 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 may 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 check usually run by healthcare suppliers in native clinics typically comes again unfavourable when different exams present an an infection. In truth, it might miss over half of all Lyme circumstances. A Western Blot check could also be extra correct, however solely when interpreted by completely different requirements than the CDC’s.
Some of the 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 different, there’s Vibrant Wellness. Whereas akin to Igenex, it comes at a decrease value. Vibrant Wellness presents complete Lyme panels. They will detect completely different borrelia species in addition to co-infections widespread with Lyme illness. These corporations enable sufferers to request a house check or ship the tick (lifeless or alive) to have it examined for infections.
Chances are high possible that every one will probably be effectively 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 line 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 website (referred to as erythema migrans)
The bullseye rash doesn’t at all times happen, so it’s crucial to test for different signs. Youngsters will typically develop tick paralysis, which causes non permanent numbness and tingling. For a whole 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.
In the event you suspect tick-related sickness, seek the advice of with a physician straight away, 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 contemporary 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, lowering your danger of tick- and different insect bites. The choices for battling ticks aren’t excellent (particularly in case you want to keep away from chemical compounds, as I do), and I can solely hope we now have extra choices for controlling the Lyme outbreak on the horizon.
Till then, listed below are a few of the steps we will take in the present day to let our youngsters 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 cut back ticks. Whereas many corporations tout this as “secure,” if it kills ticks, it in all probability isn’t good in your pets or children, not to mention the surroundings and different innocent bugs in your yard.
There are fairly a number of logical (and pure) steps to discourage ticks:
- Maintain the grass quick. Ticks are generally present in lawns, significantly in areas with tall grass, dense vegetation, and leaf litter. Maintain your garden well-maintained by mowing frequently 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, attempt 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 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 helpful bugs like ladybugs. However they could be a huge assist in controlling tick populations.
- Think about Tick Tubes: Tick tubes are cardboard cylinders stuffed with handled cotton that mice deliver again to their nests. The handled cotton kills ticks on the mice, lowering the chance of ticks attaching to people.
- Get yard chickens! In addition to offering contemporary 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 fairly secure choice at decrease concentrations, it’s not advisable for pregnant girls or youngsters beneath six months. Many research additionally level to attainable uncomfortable 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 significantly, I favor utilizing pure bug repellents, particularly since research present important oils like citronella may 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 skilled Stephen Buhner recommends adults take 1,000 mg of Astragalus each day to keep at bay ticks.
3. Test for Ticks Day by day
I do know it’s not enjoyable, however, with apply, 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 measurement of a poppy seed. That is probably the most complete checklist I’ve discovered for learn how to conduct an entire 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 palms/brush enamel step. This website has a free exercise e-book for instructing younger youngsters learn how to test for ticks.
4. Apply Good Mountaineering Hygiene
Ticks love wooded trails, tall grassy fields, and areas with dense brush.
However I refuse to let ticks spoil our love for climbing, tenting, and simply being open air in the summertime. Be good when climbing and comply with the following tips for avoiding ticks:
- Put on protecting clothes: Put on long-sleeved shirts when climbing in a high-tick space and tuck pants into socks. This apply may help forestall ticks from crawling onto uncovered pores and skin. Gentle-colored clothes additionally helps make ticks extra seen.
- Select excessive boots reasonably than athletic sneakers: Once more, you’ll wish to keep away from simply accessible pores and skin.
- Put on a wide-brimmed hat: Large-brimmed hats can hold 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 compounds, 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 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: 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 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 climbing. Be certain to take action inside 2 hours of coming inside.
It’d look like an odd household exercise, however we hold robes within the mudroom! That approach, we will strip off after climbing, throw every little thing within the dryer, and head proper for the showers.
5. Defend Pets
Pets are additionally inclined to tick-borne illnesses, and it’s typically more difficult to find ticks due to all that fur. Test canine and cats totally earlier than permitting them in the home. You can too attempt 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.
Ultimate Ideas
Whereas these strategies may help cut back your danger of tick bites, it’s nonetheless necessary to do common tick checks, particularly throughout peak tick season (Could by August). In the event you discover a tick hooked up to your pores and skin, take away it straight away –the appropriate approach– to cut back your danger of tick-borne illnesses. In the event 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 will have different concepts to stop them?