Ticks! Here are some tips on how to protect your family from these pests. Follow us for more great tips. (b)

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 In 1975, researchers were asked to investigate why large numbers of children in Lyme, Connecticut and neighboring towns were being diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.   During the investigation, officials found that most of the children lived near wooded areas that were likely to contain ticks.  They also found that the children’s symptoms first appeared in the summer months.  Many of these children reported having a bull’s eye type rash seems to follow a bite from a tick.

Researchers then focused their attention to the deer ticks of the area and found that many of them were infected with a spiral-shaped bacterium.  This bacterium was linked to the numerous reports of arthritis in the same area.  The researchers also found that these ticks feed and mate on deer during a portion of their life cycle.  Most humans are infected by the nymph stage of the tick life cycle.  It is the size of a poppy seed and is extremely difficult to see.  Adult ticks carry the bacteria also, and due to their much larger size, are usually found before the tick has attached or transmitted the disease to its host.

The tick that has been found to carry Lyme disease is known as the black-legged tick in the western states.  It is closely related to the deer tick known in the mid-western and eastern states.  These ticks have a four-stage life cycle. During each stage, a tick must drink blood to go on to the next phase of life.  Most die because they don’t find a host. Ticks are prevalent during the spring and summer months and are typically found in the Pacific Northwest, Northeastern, mid-Atlantic and Northern Midwest regions.

Experts feel that the increase in reported cases of Lyme disease is due to the growing deer population, and human expansion into residential areas where deer ticks thrive. Anyone living near or visiting grassy or wooded areas should protect themselves and their pets.  There are many products on the market to repel and kill ticks, as well as chemically treated clothing.  Using a spray that contains DEET works well to repel ticks and should be reapplied every few hours.  DEET should be used on children.  It is always best to dress in layers and wear a hat because ticks don’t want to work for their meal. Wearing light colored clothing makes ticks more visible.  When in the woods or grassy areas it is best to stay in the center of a well-traveled trail. 

Don’t blaze your own path.  Ticks need a host to brush upon them so they can crawl aboard.  Be sure to wear long pants with the cuffs tucked into long socks, and long sleeved shirts tucked in at the waist will help keep ticks from getting onto the skin.  For additional protection, you can even put duct tape over your socks.  It is no fashion statement, but it will help keep ticks from getting into your clothing. Avoid areas that are known to harbor ticks.  Scan clothes and exposed skin frequently for ticks while you are outdoors.

Immediately after your visit to areas where ticks may be present, inspect your clothing.  Carefully examine your children and pets before going into the house or getting in your vehicle.  Ticks can drop off clothing, pets and equipment and attach to you later.  Shower as soon as you can. Carefully remove your clothing and inspect your body.  Use a mirror to examine every part of your body.  Pay particular attention to under arms, waist, inside the belly button, in and around ears and hair.  Showering will make it easier to find any ticks that are crawling on you and find any that may have already attached.  Check your children carefully and examine the same areas, and shower. It has been shown that ticks survive the washing machine, even when hot water is used. All clothing should be tumbled in an intensely hot dryer for one hour to kill any remaining ticks.