Ticks were never my favorite insect, but when I became a mommy they crawled right to the top of my “panic NOW!” list. The thought of one of those things burrowing its head into my baby boy made me break into a cold sweat.
Luckily, the Minnesota DNR and American Lyme Disease Foundation are much more objective than I and have shared some useful information about the little creatures.
Larval, nymph, and adult deer tick.
Photo from http://www.aldf.com.
The experts say again and again, if you find a tick on your body; don’t panic! There are several different types of ticks and only one (the deer tick) is responsible for the spread of Lyme Disease. Among deer ticks, not all are infected with the disease-causing bacteria. Because the tick does not usually begin transmitting Lyme Disease until it has been attached for 36 to 48 hours, there is time to remove the tick safely.
Here are some tips to help you stay tick-free this summer:
Prevention
- Walk in the center of the trail when in wooded/weedy areas.
- Wear light colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot.
- Tuck your pants into your socks and long-sleeved shirts into your pants.
- Consider using a repellent containing DEET or permethrin.
- After spending time in tick habitats, take your clothes off, do a body check, and shower/rub dry as quickly as possible. Wash your clothes immediately to avoid spreading ticks in your living area.
- Check your pets for ticks!
- Use tweezers to grasp the tick close to its mouth.
- Pull the tick straight outward, gently and slowly.
- Do not squeeze the tick’s body, to avoid release of any bacteria that may be present.
- Wash the area and apply an antiseptic to the bite.
- Watch for early signs and symptoms of Lyme disease (a red rash [especially surrounding the tick bite,] flu-like symptoms, or joint pains in the first month following any deer tick bite)
