Tick bites are not always painful and some people can have a tick on them for days before noticing. That’s why it’s important to check for ticks on all clothes, skin, and pets after being outdoors in areas that have a high risk of ticks.
If you do notice a tick, removing it within 24 hours significantly reduces the chance of the tick transmitting any pathogens to you.
To remove a tick safely:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool. You can buy these from some pharmacies, online and some pet shops.
- Grasp the tick gently as close to the skin as possible.
- Very slowly pull upwards, taking care not to squeeze or crush the tick.
- Do not dispose of it if you want to send it off for testing. Some labs in the UK can test ticks for Lyme to put your mind at ease. Put it in a sealed plastic container or bag making sure it cannot escape if you want to send the tick off for testing.
- Clean the bite well with antiseptic or soap and water.
Sending ticks for testing
One of our practitioners recently noticed a tick crawling on her and was able to send it to a lab that tests whether or not the tick is carrying Lyme. Luckily the results came back negative so she didn’t have to worry too much. The lab is called Biobest - just visit their website biobest.co.uk and follow directions. Don't be put off by the fact that it's a veterinary lab - ticks with Lyme affect humans and animals alike. Tests cost about £60 and you can get results within 48 hrs.
However, if you develop any classic symptoms of Lyme, you should immediately go to the GP and request antibiotics, even if a tick test came back negative. Treating Lyme in its early stages is crucial.
Lyme symptoms
Flu-like symptoms of Lyme can appear a few days or weeks after a bite by an infected tick, and include:
- a bite with a 'bullseye' rash which means the bite has a ring around it. Note not all Lyme tick bites will show this rash so do not rely on this alone to determine your risk.
- a high temperature, or feeling hot and shivery
- headache
- muscle and joint pain
- tiredness and loss of energy
If not treated quickly, one can develop severe and chronic symptoms including:
- pain and swelling in joints
- nerve problems – such as pain or numbness
- heart problems
- trouble with memory or concentration
How to avoid ticks
Here are some ways you can reduce the chance of one of these trouble-makers hopping on and biting you in the first place:
- Stay away from long grasses - this is where ticks like to hang out and will jump onto a host as they brush by.
- If you are hiking in a place you know is high risk for ticks, wear light long trousers - tucking them into socks gives extra protection.
- Wearing light coloured clothing makes it easier to spot ticks if any do jump on you. Remember deer ticks that carry Lyme are very small - sometimes no bigger than a poppy seed.
- Use natural repellants on your skin, and if absolutely necessary regular repellent that contains Deet on your clothing.
- Take vitamin B1 - the ticks are repelled by the smell of it that comes from your skin. We recommend a supplement below. There is some evidence showing that the smell of citrus and garlic also repels ticks so you may want to include these in your diet before your outing.
- Check everyone for ticks once you return home - including pets, and on all parts of your body. Ticks like to crawl into darker spots so may not be hanging out in an obvious place
Be sensible, safe but not too scared
Remember that getting Lyme disease from a tick is still relatively rare, so we don’t want you to be too worried. But taking sensible precautions means you can enjoy the outdoors and reduce your risk even more.
|