Increased time outdoors can increase chances of ticks and Lyme disease

Increased time outdoors can increase chances of ticks and Lyme disease
 
Now that the days are longer and the weather is warmer, many people are spending more of their days outdoors. While it is great to spend time outside, you need to be on the lookout for ticks, a very small insect about the size of a head of a pin. Ticks carry diseases such as Lyme disease and pass them on to people when they are bitten.

"Ticks are very common in this part of the country due to the thriving population of deer and rodents," explains Matthew Thompson, DO, Gundersen Lutheran –Decorah Clinic. "Ticks live in wooded or grassy areas, so you may come into contact with them during outdoor activities around your home or when walking through vegetation such as leaf litter and shrubs."

To protect you from ticks, Dr. Thompson suggests:

• Wear light-colored clothes outdoors to see ticks more easily.
• Wear long sleeves, tuck your shirt in, and tuck your pant legs into socks or boots.
• Wear high boots or closed shoes that cover your feet completely.
• Wear a hat.
• Use tick repellants with 10-30 percent DEET, but do not apply to your face.

Although DEET is approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics when used correctly, it should be used extremely sparingly, if at all, on children.

• If you work outdoors, shower after work. Wash and dry your work clothes at high temperature.
• If you don't plan on washing your clothes right away, leave them outside.
• Pets will often carry ticks into your home. Treat your pets with tick repellent from you veterinarian and do not allow them to sleep in your bed. Check your pet regularly for ticks.

"It is a good idea to check your body for ticks when you return from a potentially tick-infested area, including your backyard, by searching your entire body," says Dr. Thompson. "Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body or have someone look you over and remove any ticks that are found."

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, some of the more favorable areas of your body for ticks include:

• Under the arms
• In and around the ears
• Inside the belly button
• Back of the knees
• In and around all head and body hair
• Between the legs
• Around the waist

If you are bitten by a tick, Dr. Thompson advises that you remove it immediately using fine-tipped tweezers. If you are unable to completely remove the tick, see your healthcare provider for further assistance. "If the tick is attached to your skin for less than 24 hours, your chance of getting Lyme disease is extremely small," he says. "But to be safe, watch for signs and symptoms of Lyme disease such as rash, fever or flu-like symptoms. If these symptoms develop, see your healthcare provider."

For more information on ticks and Lyme disease contact your healthcare provider or call the Gundersen Lutheran – Decorah Clinic at (563) 382-3140.