With the warm weather, many of us are spending more time outdoors. Remember that ticks may be present in the same environment. You may come into contact with ticks when walking through infested wooded areas or by brushing up against infested vegetation or animals.
The most common diseases seen in North Carolina that you can get from a tick bite are Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, & Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (STARI).
Fortunately there are several tactics you can use to prevent tick bites and reduce your risk of tick-borne disease:
Protect Yourself
- Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live particularly in or near wooded & grassy areas. Always walk in the center of trails, in order to avoid ticks.
- Use a repellent with DEET (on skin or clothing) & wear long sleeves, long pants and socks. Repellents containing 20% or more DEET can be applied to the skin, & they can protect up to several hours. Always follow product instructions and avoid the hands, eyes, and mouth.
- Wear light-colored clothing, which allows you to see ticks crawling on your clothing.
- Tuck your pant legs into your socks so that ticks cannot crawl up onto your legs and feet.
Skin Checks
Check your body for ticks after being outdoors, even in your own yard. Check these areas on the body:
- Under the arms
- In and around the ears
- Inside belly button
- Back of the knees
- In and around the hair
- Between the legs
- Around the waist
Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing and pets, so remember to check them too.
What to Do If You Are Bitten by a Tick
Remove an attached tick as soon as you notice it. Try to remove it with tweezers as close to the skin as possible. Try NOT to crush the tick in the process. Do NOT use solvents (such as rubbing alcohol, nail polish, soap, etc) or attempt to burn the tick with a match or cigarette as this might irritate the tick and cause it to inject it’s fluids into your skin. After removing the tick, wash the affected skin and your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Your risk of acquiring a tick-borne illness depends on many factors including where you live, what type of tick, and how long the tick was attached.
Watch for signs of illness such as rash or fever, and see your primary care physician if these symptoms develop. If possible, bring the live tick in a sealed container to your physician to determine identity & if it carries a contagious disease.