How can you avoid Lyme Disease and no good, icky ticks like Nick when exploring outdoors? Consider the following tips:
AVOID CONTACT WITH TICKS
EARLY DETECTION & REMOVAL
RAPID TREATMENT (following bulls-eye rash or symptoms)
EDUCATION
How could Nick, the no good, icky tick bite Abby and she not feel it? Tick bites are not painful and are easy to miss! Prevention, early detection and removal, and rapid treatment are key. Learn more about tick bites and Lyme disease using these resources recommended by Dr. Kenneth B. Singleton:
LYME INFORMATION WEBSITES
ILADS (Lyme Physician Organization)
DOCTOR REFERRAL
LYME DISEASE FILM
AVOID CONTACT WITH TICKS
- Prevention is key!
- Anticipate and avoid tick-infested areas
- Walk on cleared paths when possible
- Wear protective clothing (i.e. shoes/socks, long pants/sleeves, hat, tie back long hair)
- Use tick repellent, especially in woods or tall grassy areas
- Use tick repellent on pets
- Check pets for ticks soon after they have been outdoors
- Avoid sleeping with pets who go outdoors
- Keep yard free from tall grass, brush, leaves
EARLY DETECTION & REMOVAL
- Lyme infection is less likely if a tick is attached for less than 36-48 hours. Early detection is key!
- Shower and check for ticks soon after being outdoors (especially in wooded or tall grassy areas)
- Check entire body (especially neck, head, scalp, ears, armpits, elbows, behind knees, groin, warm spots, belly button)
- Use proper tick removal techniques
- Save the tick in case it’s needed for future TBD identification
- Monitor for bull’s eye rash (present only 50% of the time)
- Recognize common symptoms of Lyme (i.e. fever, chills, fatigue, body aches, joint pain, swelling, headaches, may or may not be accompanied by bull’s eye rash)
RAPID TREATMENT (following bulls-eye rash or symptoms)
- If infected with Lyme, early diagnosis and treatment are key!
- Seek Lyme treatment in the presence of symptoms, even if a tick was never seen or if blood tests are Lyme-negative. If you experience rash or fever, even weeks following a tick bite, seek medical attention from an experienced Lyme doctor (familiar with tick-borne diseases, diagnosis, treatment). Be sure to mention the tick bite. If bull’s eye rash is present, always treat with antibiotics for Lyme.
EDUCATION
How could Nick, the no good, icky tick bite Abby and she not feel it? Tick bites are not painful and are easy to miss! Prevention, early detection and removal, and rapid treatment are key. Learn more about tick bites and Lyme disease using these resources recommended by Dr. Kenneth B. Singleton:
LYME INFORMATION WEBSITES
- www.lymedoctor.com
- www.lymedisease.org
- www.lymediseaseassociation.org
- www.lyme.org
- www.lymeinfo.net
- www.cdc.gov
- www.columbia-lyme.org
- https://lymelightfoundation.org/
ILADS (Lyme Physician Organization)
DOCTOR REFERRAL
LYME DISEASE FILM