Notes from the Parish Nurse - Tick Bite Prevention
The beautiful days of summer remind us that the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. It is a wonderful time to share outdoor activities with family and friends. As we enjoy these gifts from God we also need to be aware of ways to protect ourselves from some of summer’s unpleasant pests.
This is the time to learn about ticks, what their bites can cause, and preventive steps to avoid their bites. Ticks are small insects that fasten themselves to humans and to animals. Although a tick’s bite is relatively painless, the real dangers are the bacteria and other organisms that the tick may carry. Of greatest concern is the deer (blacklegged) tick which can spread Lyme disease and the related disease, human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA).
A deer tick, which is only about the size of a sesame seed, is difficult to see. Deer tick nymphs are not much larger than the period at the end of a sentence, so they are easily overlooked. Ticks and nymphs must feed for 24 hours or more to transmit the bacteria which causes Lyme disease or HGA.
It is important to take precautions to avoid tick bites. First, avoid wooded bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter. If walking in those areas, stay in the center of the trails. Second, wear light-colored clothing (so it is easier to detect ticks), long sleeves, long pants tucked into your socks, and boots or shoes. Third apply tick repellent. Repellent containing 20-30% DEET can be applied to one’s skin and clothing and will last several hours. Pre-treat boots, pants, socks, and even tents with 0.5% permethrin. It needs to be applied several hours before use so it can dry thoroughly. It will continue to give protection even after clothing has been washed several times. And finally, check often for ticks and make a “full-body tick-check” at the end of the day. Susceptible areas where ticks might hide are in arm pits, around ears, inside “belly buttons”, behind knees, in the groin area, around the waist, and especially in the hair. Be sure to check children and pets for ticks too.
To remove a tick, grasp it close to your skin with a tweezer and pull upward with a steady even pressure until it releases its hold. Do not crush the tick’s body or handle it with bare fingers to minimize bacteria exposure. Dip the tick in alcohol and place it in a zip lock baggy in case it needs to be identified. Then wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water. If you are unable to remove the entire tick or if a tick has been attached for more than 24 hours see your health care provider.
Lyme disease and HGA are not uncommon diseases. Each year in the United States, the CDC reports over 30,000 cases of Lyme disease and around 6,000 cases of HGA. These two diseases are often difficult to diagnose though because the symptoms are nonspecific. A diagnosis is made by health history, symptoms, physical exam, and blood tests, including a bacterial culture of the blood. Symptoms of Lyme disease include: a red “bull’s eye” skin rash at the site of the bite, flu-like fever and chills, headache, muscle fatigue, and joint pain. For HGA most people experience severe headaches, fever over 102 degrees, and general malaise with muscle aches, chills, and shaking. Symptoms can occur as early as three days to as late as 30 days after a bite, but typically they begin in 7-14 days. Left untreated, the diseases can lead to arthritis, respiratory illnesses, and heart abnormalities. Treatment is usually with a common antibiotic such as doxycycline or amoxicillin.