Tick Bites: Prevention and Safe Removal

As spring and summer time method and we spend extra time outside, 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 safe throughout out of doors 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. 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 frequent than breast most cancers. Whereas it’s potential 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 potential to get tick-borne encephalitis, aka, mind irritation.

Many of those infections trigger the identical signs as Lyme disease. Though these are much less frequent than Lyme, they’re liable for a number of thousand instances of tick-related sickness in the USA every year.

Lyme illness could cause all kinds of signs. Some individuals 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 tough to diagnose. Dr. Jay Davidson explains extra in this podcast.

The place Are Ticks a Drawback?

Instances of tick-borne illness are inclined to cluster across the northeastern United States. Nonetheless, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), not less than one case of Lyme illness has occurred in each state. Try this map of instances reported by the CDC from 1990 by way of 2021.

Rhode Island, Vermont, and Maine have the best incidence fee of Lyme instances. Information from 2022 exhibits a median of about 200 instances per 100,000 individuals occurred in these three states. Midwestern states are additionally experiencing elevated instances lately.

However Lyme isn’t restricted to the Northeast and the Midwest. As of 2015, nearly half the counties in the USA 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’ll be able to to scale back your probabilities of tick bites. The spring and summer time are the best threat, as ticks are busy hatching and in search of their subsequent meal.

The right way 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, lined areas of the physique.

First, bathe off to take away any unattached ticks. Then, fastidiously examine for ticks by totally 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

Moderately than play naturalist, I’ll level you to one of the best tick identification device I’ve discovered. This handy chart that includes photographs of ticks lets you kind by area, sort, maturity levels, feeding levels, and even by the ailments numerous sorts of ticks could transmit. The deer tick (black-legged tick) is the principle 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 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. When you’re a seasoned guardian or have pets, you’ve possible confronted this case earlier than. Nonetheless, if you happen to haven’t, right here’s what to do:

Test to see if the tick is connected. When you spot a small, flat tick crawling in your garments, pores and skin, or flooring, it’s a great signal, because it possible hasn’t bitten anybody or fed lately. 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 arduous, I do know.) Don’t contact the tick together with your naked palms. 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 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. 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 might 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 right 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 might 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 instances I’ve felt an invisible tick crawling on me whereas penning this submit!)

What to Do As a substitute: Protected Tick Removing

As a substitute, 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 facet assist make sure the tick mouth doesn’t bend too far to the facet and snap off whereas rotating.

When you don’t have a tick removing device, use tweezers, however make sure to seize the tick as near the top/mouth as potential.

The right way to Take away a Tick

First, attempt to ignore the super-mom adrenaline pumping by way of your physique!
Strategy the tick from the facet 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 potential.
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 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 essential oil blend are additionally good choices.

How/The place to Ship a Tick For Testing

Testing for tick-borne sickness in people is frequently inaccurate. The ELISA check sometimes run by healthcare suppliers in native clinics typically comes again unfavorable when different assessments 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 totally 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 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 presents complete Lyme panels. They will detect totally different borrelia species in addition to co-infections frequent 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 possible that each one will probably be properly 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 keeping with the CDC, potential 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 all the time happen, so it’s vital to test for different signs. Kids will generally develop tick paralysis, which causes non permanent numbness and tingling. For an entire listing of signs, see the CDC’s tick page.

Dr. Jay Davidson provides {that a} sore sternum (the bone over the breast) could also be one other signal of contracting Lyme.

When 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 stop illness transmission all through the physique.

Tick Prevention Is the Greatest Treatment (for Now)

You’ll be able to 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 excellent (particularly if you happen to favor to keep away from chemical substances, as I do), and I can solely hope we’ve extra choices for controlling the Lyme outbreak on the horizon.

Till then, listed below are a number of the steps we are able to take right now to let our youngsters go adventuring without worry:

1. Tick-Proof Your Yard

It’s most likely 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 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 couple of logical (and pure) steps to discourage ticks:

Preserve the grass brief. Ticks are generally present in lawns, significantly in areas with tall grass, dense vegetation, and leaf litter. Preserve 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 favor shaded, humid environments, so growing daylight publicity could make the garden much less hospitable for them.
Mulch with cedar chips. Studies show 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 useful bugs like ladybugs. However they could be a massive assist in controlling tick populations.
Contemplate Tick Tubes: Tick tubes are cardboard cylinders crammed with handled cotton that mice deliver 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 contemporary eggs, they eat ticks! Chickens are pure foragers and can peck at bugs they encounter, together with ticks. They will help cut back ticks within the areas surrounding your home.

2. Use Pure Bug Repellent

Though the EWG (Environmental Working Group) concludes DEET is a reasonably safe possibility at decrease concentrations, it’s not really useful for pregnant girls or kids beneath six months. Many research additionally level to potential 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 significantly, I favor utilizing pure bug repellents, particularly since research present important oils like citronella might be as efficient as DEET. My natural 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 effective) for repelling these tiny nymph ticks you can not 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 Medication that will assist repel ticks whereas supporting the immune system. Lyme skilled Stephen Buhner recommends adults take 1,000 mg of Astragalus every day to keep at bay 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 train 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 essentially the most complete listing I’ve discovered for the best way to conduct a complete tick check.

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 tooth step. This website has a free activity e-book for educating younger kids the best way to test for ticks.

4. Follow 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 mountaineering, tenting, and simply being outdoor in the summertime. Be good when mountaineering and observe the following tips 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 observe will help stop ticks from crawling onto uncovered pores and skin. Gentle-colored clothes additionally helps make ticks extra seen.
Select excessive boots reasonably 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.
Contemplate permethrin clothing: I don’t love the thought of utilizing chemical substances, however I really 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 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 great soak: Bathe or bathe as quickly as potential after mountaineering. Be certain to take action inside 2 hours of coming inside.

It would seem to be a wierd household exercise, however we maintain robes within the mudroom! That approach, we are able to strip off after mountaineering, throw every part within the dryer, and head proper for the showers.

5. Defend Pets

Pets are additionally inclined to tick-borne ailments, and it’s typically tougher to find ticks due to all that fur. Test canines and cats totally earlier than permitting them in the home. You may also strive making use of a couple of drops of geranium important oil round a canine’s collar however don’t use this methodology (or any important oils) on cats.

Last Ideas

Whereas these strategies will help cut back your threat of tick bites, it’s nonetheless necessary to do common tick checks, particularly throughout peak tick season (Might by way of August). When you discover a tick connected to your pores and skin, take away it straight away –the correct approach– to scale back your threat of tick-borne ailments. When 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 have got different concepts to forestall them?

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