Tis the Season for Ticks

While ticks may be out and about in all but the coldest of months, adult ticks are most active in the summer and fall. And given that over 50% of ticks tested in Vermont are infected with B. burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, it’s in your—and your family’s—best interest to take extra precautions during the height of tick season.

Tick-borne infections are not something to take lightly. Both Lyme and anaplasmosis—the most common tick-borne diseases in our region—can have really unpleasant and potentially disabling symptoms, such as muscle and joint pain, fatigue, neurologic issues, sleep disturbances, cognitive problems, irritability, and depression. Antibiotic treatment lasts for 2-4 weeks, but some symptoms can last for months or even years.

Tips for tick safety

When it comes to ticks, avoidance is the best strategy. That doesn’t mean avoiding the outdoors but, rather, taking a few precautions to prevent ticks from finding their way onto your body or into your home.

Here are just a few of the measures you can take:

Dress Smart

Wear long sleeves and pants. If venturing into the woods, tuck your pants into your socks.
Choose light-colored clothing
Spray clothing with a tick-repellent such as permethrin
Wear a hat if venturing into the woods

Manage Your Yard

Keeps grass mowed, especially in areas used for play or gatherings
Rake and remove leaf debris from around the house
Keep wood piles away from the house
Plant deer-resistant flower and shrubs

Perform Tick Checks

Thoroughly examine yourself and loved ones when returning inside
Take a shower
Change your clothes immediately and put worn clothes in the dryer on high for 10 minutes
Don’t forget to check pets for hitchhikers

What to do if you find a tick

If you find a tick crawling on your body, you can safely dispose of it by flushing it down the toilet, putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag, or wrapping it tightly in tape.

If the tick is attached, follow these steps to safely remove it:

Use fine-tipped tweezers and firmly grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible.
With a steady motion, pull straight up until all parts of the tick are removed.

Do not be alarmed if the tick’s mouthparts remain in the skin. Once the mouthparts are separated from the body of the tick, it can no longer transmit the infection. Leave it be and let your body handle it.

Once the tick is removed, thoroughly wash your hands, and clean the bite area with soap and water, antiseptic, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

If the tick is engorged or was attached to your body for more than 36 hours, contact your doctor for next steps.

Even if the tick was not attached for 36+ hours, watch for symptoms of tick-borne illness over the next several weeks. If you have any flu-like symptoms or a rash in the bite area, contact your doctor.

James Poole, MD, is a Hospitalist and Director of SVMC Inpatient Services.