Watch Out For Ticks

Although it may seem early in the year as far as the Northern hemisphere is concerned, this article from health.usnews.com (see link below) warns yet again about the danger of ticks. Via Lyme disease that tick bites can cause, people can suffer nerve damage including neuropathy. The bites themselves  are both difficult to find and eradicate. If neuropathy ensues, tracing it back to a tick bite may also be very difficult, so it's sensible to at least do your best to avoid being bitten, or treat the bite as quickly as possible after it's discovered.

Prevent Tick Bites While Enjoying the Outdoors
By Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter HealthDay April 13, 2014 

SUNDAY, April 13, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- With spring's arrival, many Americans will begin enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and gardening -- and they need to protect themselves from tick bites, an expert says.

"There aren't any vaccines for tick-borne diseases like Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and anaplasmosis, so the only way to prevent infection is to not get bitten in the first place," Dr. Christopher Ohl, a professor of infectious diseases at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, said in a Wake Forest news release.

Ohl, who is also the medical director of communicable diseases for the Forsyth County, N.C. Health Department, offered the following tips:

Use an insect repellant containing DEET on exposed skin, and treat clothing and footwear with a permethrin-based repellant that provides weeks of protection and remains through several washings.

Tuck your pants into socks to reduce the amount of exposed skin. When hiking, stay on well-worn paths and out of tall grass or bushy areas.

Check for ticks immediately after being outdoors. The longer a tick is attached, the greater your risk of infection.

If you discover a tick, use tweezers to remove it as close to the skin as possible. Don't grab it with your fingers and squeeze it. That injects the tick fluids into you and increases the risk of infection, Ohl warned.

If you suffer a tick bite and develop a fever one to two weeks later, see a doctor. The incubation period for tick-borne diseases is eight to 14 days, he said.

Protect your dog with tick collars or monthly treatments. This will prevent ticks from being brought into your home by the dog.

More information

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn more about tick bite prevention.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2014/04/13/prevent-tick-bites-while-enjoying-the-outdoors