05/22/2023
MAY IS LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH (PLEASE SHARE)
TICK BITE PREVENTION TIPS
Lyme disease is an epidemic affecting all 50 States. Untreated, under-treated, or misdiagnosed Lyme disease has the potential to cause serious physical and/or emotional problems. The best thing you can do to protect yourself and your family is work hard to prevent tick bites and be proactive when bitten. Doing even a handful of these could decrease your risk of illness.
If you are bitten by a tick, note that ANY SIZE and ANY TYPE of tick that has attached for ANY amount of time could be problematic for your health. Various types of ticks carry various infections (NOT JUST LYME). Some infections can be transmitted in as little as 15 MINUTES through the tick's saliva. If a tick attaches to you, do not disturb it with Vaseline or oils or heat or anything else. Call your doctor for advice. Use a clean tool (such as tweezers) to grasp it as close to the skin as possible. Then, raise it as if you were lifting it into a headstand position and pull it out. Clean the area. Put the tick in a plastic bag with a wet cotton ball. You can ask your doctor to have the tick tested, call us at the Lyme and PANS Treatment Center for help, or simply visit www.tickreport.com. The results will tell you information about which bacteria you were potentially exposed to from that exact tick.
Watch the site of the tick-bite carefully. If any irritation or rash appears near the site of the tick bite, put a dime next to the bite and take a picture of it. Consult your doctor at any point. Plenty of people get Lyme disease with NO rash at all! And people get other tick-borne illnesses aside from Lyme which can trigger physical and/or mental health problems.
TIPS:
1. Stay aware. Ticks can be anywhere, including the beach, yards, woods, on your pet or shoes. You may not see them regularly because they are tiny.
2. Ticks do not fly or jump. They climb up your body seeking a dark warm spot to attach to. If you plan to walk in tall grass or near woods, cover your feet, ankles, and legs well. Tuck your pants into your socks. Sadly, you may want to discourage your children from laying or rolling in grassy areas.
3. Wear light colored clothing so you can spot ticks more easily.
4. If you do not mind spraying strong chemicals on your shoes/clothing to prevent a tick-bite, permethrin appears to be the chemical of choice right now. This is for your clothing/shoes, not your skin. In order to minimize exposure to chemicals, wear a face mask, bring your shoes outside, and spray them outdoors every 2 weeks.
5. The CDC recommends using skin repellents with 20% DEET or more, though there are precautions for use with children.
6. If you prefer to stay away from chemicals, there are all natural essential oil recipes you can prepare in bulk and apply directly to your skin (do a skin test first please). Essential oils are listed on CDC's website as potential tick repellents. Note that they may need to be applied more frequently than DEET products. As long as you are not allergic to essential oils, you may find other benefits from the spraying, and may even enjoy the scent. (Note the dilution and safety may be different for young children and babies!) Feel free to the Lyme and PANS Treatment Center for essential oil repellent “recipes.”
7. After spending time outside, and before walking indoors, use a sticky lint roller up and down your pants or legs to hopefully remove ticks. If you have been out in a particularly high-risk area (e.g., the woods, or doing yard work), consider disrobing in the garage or mud room, and putting the clothes is a sealed bag for laundering. Then take a shower.
8. ****You have to check your body every day. We live in a seriously Lyme endemic area. Moreover, there are OTHER bacteria/viruses in our ticks that are just as serious or more serious than Lyme disease. Look behind your ears/neck, armpits, groin, back and scalp. Ask someone else to check your back for you. In the shower, use your hands instead of a washcloth to lather up. Feel around for tiny ticks. An attached tick will feel like a tiny scab.
9. It is estimated that more than half of people with confirmed Lyme disease NEVER saw a tick bite or a rash. If you are uncertain about whether you have Lyme, get tested or consult a Lyme-literate medical doctor.
10. Be suspicious of the so-called "summer-flu." If you have lingering symptoms from your "summer-flu", get evaluated.
11. Recent studies suggest that standard Lyme disease testing misses nearly HALF of the positive cases of Lyme disease. Lyme-literate doctors and the CDC recommend using clinical symptoms/complaints to help diagnose Lyme; DO NOT RELY SOLELY ON A BASIC LYME TEST.
If you need assistance or information, we are located in Hingham for in-person or telehealth consults (781-923-7000).
Peace and Health to All🌻
The Lyme and PANS Treatment Center Team
781-923-7000
