Tips for Avoiding Lyme Disease

By Laura Tayman

As we all enjoy the great outdoors this summer, the Anne Arundel County Health Department offers tips to protect the family from some clingy unwanted guests.

Whether it’s through camping, enjoying local parks or even walking in the neighborhood, residents can acquire a black-legged tick that can lead to Lyme disease.

According to a release issued by Elin Jones of the county health department, Lyme disease is difficult to diagnose because there may be no symptoms or symptoms may mimic other diseases. In only about 65 percent of confirmed cases did patients notice a tick before they became ill.

Once a person has been outside, he or she should thoroughly check for ticks. A whole body inspection every three to four hours is safest when in grassy or wooded areas. 

“It is very important that parents conduct a thorough inspection of children,” said Jones. “Look along the hairline, in the hair and ears, and where clothing fits snugly.”

Tips to avoid contact with a tick include:

• Wearing light-colored, long sleeved shirts and pants that you can tuck into your socks when working or walking in areas likely to have ticks.
• Spraying arms and legs with an insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin (unless you are pregnant).
• Removing leaves, brush and tall grass around houses, pathways and gardens.
• Washing and drying clothes as soon as possible, preferably at a hot temperature once you come inside.

If you do find a tick on your skin, the department recommends that you remove the tick right away—but do not touch it with bare hands.

Use tweezers to grip the tick behind its head and as close to the skin as you can. Gently pull it off. If tweezers are not available, use your fingers wearing gloves or a tissue. Health department officials say once the tick is removed, hands should be washed and the tick bite area should be treated with an antiseptic—such as iodine scrub, rubbing alcohol, or soap and water. 

The health department also recommends marking a calendar on the date the tick was found and watch for symptoms for at least a month.

After a bite, a "bull’s eye rash" of red circles can appear. Other early symptoms may include fever, joint and muscle pains, headache or feeling tired.

The health department recommends contacting a physician if any symptoms appear. If left untreated, the infection can lead to serious illnesses of the heart, joints and nervous system.

According to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Infection Disease and Environmental Health Administration, Prince George's County had 69 cases of Lyme disease in 2010 among the 1,617 in the state.

Related Topics: Lyme Disease and Tick Tips