As the weather gets nicer outside, we can’t help ourselves from wanting to venture to the outdoors more. Enjoying activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, outdoor sports, children especially get a kick out of a day in the summer sun. Kids are running barefoot, sleeveless, and in short pants in all kinds of settings. Some of these may put them in danger of tick bites.
Why should you be cautious against ticks? Ticks can transmit a bacterial infection, which can cause further disorders, such as Lyme disease. Lyme disease is a big problem; more than 19,800 cases were reported in the U.S. in 2004. The actual numbers may be even higher, seeing as how sometimes people don't even know that they have it. Most of the cases of Lyme disease in the United States occur in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, and Northwest. The following states are typically the hardest hit: Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.
This disease may have several different symptoms such as a rash, flu-like characteristics, and even arthritic or cardiac symptoms. Treatment is most successful when the tick bite and/or the Lyme disease is discovered immediately, since then it could be treated with simple antibiotics.
Some factors that increase your Lyme disease risk are the following: spending a lot of time outdoors in tall grass, brush, shrubs, or wooded areas, having pets that may carry ticks indoors, participating in activities such as yard work, hiking, camping, fishing, or hunting in tick infested areas.
These are some safety tips that can help protect everyone: Wear protective shoes or boots, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. Tuck your pants into shoes or boots to prevent ticks from crawling up your legs. Wear light-colored clothing to help you see ticks easily on the fabric. Use an insect repellant containing 10% to 30% DEET (if not contraindicated). Keep long hair pulled back or placed in a cap for added protection. When outdoors, don't sit on the ground and frequently check yourself for ticks and others around you for ticks. Often times, they may be in places you won’t see yourself. After each outing, check yourself, your children, and your pets for ticks. Wash all clothes after leaving tick-infested areas, and thoroughly shampoo your hair to eliminate any unseen ticks.
An important topic to be discussed with your children, friends and family before the summer begins is how to remove a tick just in case it has landed on you. First thing, do not panic. Your risk of developing Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick is low. It takes 24 to 48 hours for the tick to transmit the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. However to be safe you will want to remove the tick as soon as possible. If you do find a tick:
Call your doctor. Your doctor may want you to save the tick after removal for proper identification, possibly as the type that carries Lyme disease. You can put the tick in a jar of alcohol to kill it.
Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to your skin.
Pull firmly and steadily on the tick until it lets go of the skin. If part of the tick stays in your skin, don't worry. It will eventually come out but you should call your doctor if you notice any irritation in the area or symptoms of Lyme disease.
Last, you can wash the bite site with alcohol.
This is not to say that outdoor ventures should be made less frequent, however, it is important to take the proper precautions and to be aware of the issues and dangers that may occur any and everyday while outdoors. Everyone is at risk, especially children. Because of their tendencies to the forest and wooded areas, they are in danger of acquiring tick borne illnesses. However, with these safety measures, an appropriate spread of knowledge and education about this matter, and with a more aware take on the outdoor world, outdoor activities, and a little “fun in the sun” can truly be made much more enjoyable.
Daniel Kohane MD
Reference:
Tick Tips. Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ticktips2005/
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