We’re entering tick season… how to deal with them (or better still, avoid them altogether!)
With the weather set fair for the next fortnight and whilst we are still allowed outside to exercise, some of us may decide to walk through local wildlife and woodland areas to appreciate Spring springing around us! With these type of beautiful natural environments comes the increased chance of bites from ticks, which tend to be more active from March to around May/June time and again in the cooler autumn period.
Ticks don’t have eyes, so they sense the presence of a host (human or animal) through the vibration of us moving, the carbon dioxide we breathe out and the heat our bodies give off. They can’t jump or fly, so climb onto a person or animal as we brush through the vegetation they’re sitting on.
Why are they dangerous?
Ticks will attach their mouth parts into your skin and suck your blood. They can be hard to remove and have the potential to leave infection and in particular can cause the host to develop Lyme Disease. Early symptoms can include a circular red rash (often described as a ‘bullseye’), flu-type symptoms, fatigue, muscle and joint pain and can usually be treated with antibiotics successfully if caught early. Without treatment more serious complications can arise, such as meningitis, facial palsy, nerve damage and arthritis.
What should you do if you find one on yourself, someone else or an animal?
Wearing gloves if possible, hold the area as still as possible and grasp the tick firmly as near to the skin as possible with a pair of tweezers or use a tick removal tool. Pull straight out with sustained force, not jerking or twisting, trying to get all of the mouth parts. The mouth parts are barbed so you might need a bit of force! Clean the area of the bite with soap and water, and then apply some antiseptic cream or use an antiseptic wipe. If you feel unwell within a few weeks of being bitten, call your GP or phone 111 for advice and make sure you tell them that you’ve removed a tick. Lyme Disease is fortunately quite rare but worth knowing about. If you are able it may be helpful to preserve the tick in rubbing alcohol in case it’s required for testing.
Don’t use Vaseline, a burnt match, coat them in nail varnish or any other method – these can not only harm your skin but can make the tick burrow further in!
So, how can you avoid them?
Try to stick to paths and avoid walking through dense undergrowth. Wear long trousers and tuck them into your socks. Wear light clothing so the ticks are easy to spot and brush off, and regularly brush off your clothes. Wellies are also a good idea!
You can find our more in this short Public Health England video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzR1eja6Wa8. Enjoy the countryside on your daily exercise but be aware that not every creature you’re spending time with is a pleasant one!!
