My family is planning a camping trip and I’m concerned about our risk for Lyme disease. What can we do to prevent it and what do we do if one of us finds a tick?
Awareness is the key to preventing the contraction of Lyme disease. It is not always possible to avoid contact with ticks, so recognizing the early warning signs of the disease is vital. The sooner a physician diagnoses Lyme disease, the easier it is to treat.
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in North America and Europe. Deer ticks, which feed on the blood of animals and humans, can harbor the bacterium that causes Lyme disease in their stomachs and spread it when feeding. When temperatures rise above 40 degrees, deer ticks are more prevalent. While walks through wooded areas or tall grass provide the highest risk of picking up a deer tick, pets can also bring ticks into the home. During outdoor recreational activities like camping, extra precautions should be taken to avoid the illness.
When camping or hiking, wear light-colored clothing so that ticks can be spotted more easily. Wear long pants tucked into your socks, a long-sleeved shirt, a hat and gloves. Tape the area where pants and socks meet to prevent ticks from crawling under your clothing. You may want spray insect repellent containing the chemical DEET on your clothes or on exposed skin, except for your face. Another chemical, permethrin, when used on clothes can kill ticks but, unlike DEET, it should never be applied to your skin.
After being outside carefully perform a tick check, either in the mirror or with a partner. A tick is about as large as the period at the end of this sentence. Parents should check their children for deer ticks after examining themselves. If you do find a tick, the best course of action is to stay calm, it usually takes 36 hours after the tick attaches itself before the disease spreads. The presence of a tick does not mean you have been bitten. Carefully pry the tick loose with fine tweezers, being careful not to crush or break it. If possible, store it in a plastic bag for later analysis. Finding a tick — even one that has clearly fed on you — does not necessarily mean that you have the disease, but you should consult your physician.
Even if you did not spot a tick, you should remain vigilant for signs of Lyme disease. One common sign is the “bull’s eye rash,” or a red rash with a clear center. Other early warning signs may include flu-like symptoms such as fever, nausea, headaches, fatigue and achiness. If these symptoms occur within a few weeks of your trip, see your doctor. Lyme disease can have long-term symptoms such as ringing in the ears, jaw aches and even mild memory loss.
The treatment regimen — four to six weeks of antibiotics — must be followed strictly. Although patients may feel better after taking the antibiotics for 10 days, it is important to continue the medications because the disease will not yet have been fully eliminated. A severe recurrence may occur if the regimen is not completed the first time.
Hopefully you and your family will enjoy a tick-free trip, and remember, your best defense against this small but dangerous critter is awareness.
