Preventing Lyme Disease
When it comes to Lyme Disease, the first and most important thing to do is learn prevention techniques that will help you prevent tick bites as well as reduce your exposure to the disease. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t go outside during tick season, just to carry a certain amount of awareness, particularly in areas where ticks are more commonplace. Sometimes the simplest methods are the most effective when used to prevent lyme disease.
If you’re heading outside, consider wearing long sleeves and long pants. This may seem counterintuitive given the heat of the summer, but the less exposed skin you have outdoors, the fewer places ticks will be able to bite. Insecticides or repellents can also help to reduce the chance of tick bites and therefore help in preventing lyme disease, but are not 100 percent effective in this task. When using such chemicals, be sure to read directions carefully. Also make sure that the product you’re using is safe when using them on children.
After any outdoor activities, be sure to check yourself for ticks. If possible, have someone else in your group check for attached ticks as well. Always look to exposed skin first, such as between fingers or under the arms and behind the ears, also around the neckline. To be extra careful, check places where clothing presses closely to the skin, as a tick could find its way through the material. If any ticks are found, be sure to remove them as soon as possible. If a tick is removed in less than 24 hours, it greatly reduces the risk of infection and can go a long way to prevent lyme disease occurrences. If a large brown tick is found, these do not carry the Lyme disease bacteria. If you find a very small tick, consider placing it in a plastic bag or vial and take it to your health-care provider for a test. The information listed above should only be considered general guidelines and shouldn’t be used as a substitute for consultation with your health-care provider, who you should contact with any questions.