How to block Lyme disease and Tick Bites

It’s the summer and who doesn’t like to take a barefoot walk in the garden through the grass. But before you start strolling, you would like to protect yourself from ticks – insects of tall grass and woody areas. These ticks are known to carry disease, so keeping them away would be a wise thing to do. Tick – diseases are found in many parts of the country especially at this time of the year. However it is usually clustered in rocky areas.

Deer Tick – Image Source: Wikimedia (Public Domain)

The most common tick borne illness is the Lyme disease. Every year, the number of cases reported is around 30,000 and most of them go unreported. These very tiny 8 – legged creatures are hard to see. One specific type called the deer ticks are the main culprit, causing Lyme disease. They carry the causing bacteria called the Borrelia Burgdorferi. These ticks at the maximum can grow to be of size of sesame seeds. An infected tick might bite you for a blood meal which can infect you too. Sometimes you won’t recall a bite also because they are so tiny.

But it’s better to get an early treatment. The symptoms of the disease include headache, joints and muscle pain, fever or extreme fatigue. Also some might experience an expanding red rash resembling a bull’s eye which is not itchy or painful but tender. So, they may not realize their sickness. But, if this is not treated you will experience rashes all over the body. In extreme cases people may suffer from arthritis and nervous disorders. The good thing is that Lyme disease can be cured even at the later stages. Thanks to the antibiotics available. But of course the prevention is better than cure. Preventive measures include steering clear out of the tall vegetation and using clear path instead.

You can keep ticks from biting you by wearing long pants and full sleeved clothes. An insect repellant consisting of 20% DEET can be used for applying on skin whereas Permethrin can be used on clothes. If you are staying in an area with large population of ticks, then you should shower or bathe asap after coming from outside. The clothes should be washed and dried with high heat. Next thing you can do is to check your body for them since before feeding; they burrow into your skin. So pulling them out right away can do the trick. But do see a doctor if you experience any of the symptoms afterwards.