Checking for ticks on your body is relatively easy, and should be done every time you come back from being outdoors, especially if you live in a rural area in the Northeastern US.
One of the main diseases carried by ticks is Lyme disease, caused by a bacteria spread introduced into the blood when a tick latches on to feed for 24 or more hours.
The main carrier of Lyme disease is the black legged tick, also known as the deer tick. Lyme disease is named after Lyme, Connecticut, the ground zero of Lyme disease, which was discovered in the 1970s. Lyme is present in 14 states, from Maine down to Virginia and over to Minnesota. However, it has been diagnosed in all 50 states due to travel having become more common.
Why is Lyme Disease So Easy to Spread?
Lyme is not the only serious tickborne illness, but it is rapidly becoming the most common. One of the reasons it is so easy to spread is that ticks are so small.
In fact, baby ticks, called nymphs, are most commonly associated with the spread of Lyme, mainly because they are so hard to see. They are about the size of a poppy seed, and can often be mistaken for a speck of dirt.
Eventually, they will become so engorged with blood, they will become more noticeable. However, sometimes people are not aware that they have been bitten until they develop the bulls eye rash that is indicative of Lyme disease.
Adult ticks are larger, especially when they are engorged with blood, but they are still only about the size of a plump sesame seed. Learning how to spot ticks is an important skill to have if you live in the Northeastern United States and want to stay safe from Lyme disease.
It is important to remove a tick promptly if you get bitten, because Lyme disease usually takes 24 to 36 hours to be transmitted by the tick. The sooner you get the tick off your body, or that of your loved one or pet, the better.
Preventive Measures
If you have spent the day outdoors in an area where Lyme disease-carrying ticks are common, be sure to use insect repellent or essential oils to discourage bugs from finding you interesting. Wear long pants rather than shorts or a skirt, and tuck the pants into the tops of your socks to stop ticks who lurk in the long grass from working their way up your pant leg. Wear light-colored clothing so you can spot ticks more easily.
When you get home, experts suggest that you take a shower to help detach any ticks that might have hitchhiked home with you. Check your skin. If you see anything that resembles a mole or unusual spot on your skin that you hadn’t noticed before, it could be a tick.
A tick that has not fed fully might also look like what is termed a skin tag, a loose flap of skin that is usually light to dark gray in color.
Check dark moist places, such as the backs of your knees, the groin, and the underarms. These are exactly the types of places ticks love to hide.
If your pets spend a lot of time outside, be sure to check them for ticks regularly. Keep the fur short and search carefully with a magnifying glass if you have one, and a pair of tweezers in case you find one attached.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to Lyme disease. Learn how to check yourself and your pets for ticks and stay safe.
