How to protect yourself from ticks year-round
Washington – Ticks can be active in any season and it is important to check and remove blood suckers as quickly as possible – especially after being outside the hike, gardening or derivation of nature.
“Humans are more outside in summer, so we hear more tick infections,” said Sam Telford, an expert in infectious diseases at Tufts University. But he urges caution all year round because “each season is the tick season”.
Although the populations of ticks vary a lot at the regional level, certain Northeast States, notably Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, see the number of American dog ticks this year, said Telford.
And New York State notes a higher number of deer tick stings this year that last year, said Saravanan Thégamani, which is studying diseases transmitted by ticks at the Sany Upstate medical university.
How ticks can spread disease
Ticks, like mosquitoes, should feed on blood. But instead of a quick bite, it is slow feeders – with hooked oral pieces that attach to the skin of deer, rabbits, dogs and people.
There are many different species of ticks found on a global scale and only a few distributed germs that can make people sick. A main concern is black ticks, also called deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease. Once you are mainly found in New England and Pockets of the Midwest, ticks are now on a larger range.
A tick bite does not always lead to a disease. “If you delete a tick within 24 hours of fixing, it is unlikely that you will be infected,” said LEFORD.
How to check the ticks
Ticks are generally low on the ground, in leaves of leaves or grassy areas.
Check your clothes for ticks and make a complete check, including under the arms and behind the ears, knees and hair.
“If you came out all day, try to check the ticks quickly every few hours,” Bobbi told Mayo Clinic. “When you go back inside, take a shower. It will wash all the ticks not attached, and you are also more likely to spot other ticks.”
Use tweezers to remove the check and grab it as close as possible to the skin to remove from the head. If you don’t have them at hand, you can also use your nails, the edge of a credit card or any semi-Sharp object.
How to keep ticks away
The best approach is to completely minimize tick exposure.
Insect spraying containing ingredients such as the DEET can be sprayed on exposed skin to ward off ticks and mosquitoes, said Tell.
Wear long sleeves and pants, and you can also spray clothes with repellents containing permethrin, a chemical similar to a natural ingredient in chrysanthemums that avoid flowers.
Protect your pets from ticks
Do not forget to pay attention to pets outdoors. Medicines can prevent fleas and ticks from attaching to a dog’s skin. But it’s always a good idea to check the fur after being outside.
“Wherever pets cannot easily prepare, this is where the ticks will be – on the ears, around the muzzle area, under the collar, between the toes,” said Thangamani.
Dogs and cats wandering outside can also bring ticks to the house.
“If pets bring ticks, a tick can live in the house for months until she finds her next blood meal”, which could be another member of the household, he said.
What to do after a tick bite
After removing the tick, keep an eye on the skin around the bite. If an eruption or pseudo-Grippal symptoms appear in several days or weeks, consult a doctor.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend tick tests because the results may not be reliable.
