Tickborne diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever are on the rise in Ohio. With tick season continuing through early fall, it’s important to be aware of how to prevent and treat tick bites when hiking, playing or working outside.

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) recommends the following four steps to avoid tickborne diseases.

Protect against tick bites.

• Avoid areas where ticks live, such as wooded and brushy areas with high grass and fallen leaves. Walk in the center of trails and take extra precautions from spring through fall.

• For exposed skin, apply an insect repellent registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency labeled for use against ticks. Select one that lasts for several hours, and follow the instructions on the label. Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin, always following the product label.

• Wear long pants, long sleeves and long socks. Tuck shirts into pants and tuck pant legs into socks or boots. You can see ticks on your clothing more easily if you wear light colors.

Check for ticks.

• Carefully examine gear and pets for ticks before bringing them inside. Remove ticks from your clothing while you are still outside.

• Tumble dry clothes on high heat to remove ticks. Ten minutes should be long enough for dry clothing; damp clothing may need to be in the dryer for a longer period of time. If you are washing your clothes to rid them of ticks, use hot water.

• After returning from tick-infested areas, conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held mirror. Bathe or shower within two hours after coming inside to find and wash off ticks. Parents should thoroughly check their children for ticks.

Remove ticks as soon as you can.

• Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.

• Pull away from the skin with steady, even pressure.

• Don’t twist or jerk. If the tick’s mouth parts remain in the skin after you have pulled the tick away, remove the mouth parts with tweezers. If the mouth parts still do not come out, just let the skin heal.

• Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly with tape or flushing it down the toilet. Never crush a tick with your fingers.

• Wash your hands and the bite area with soap and water.

• Do not use folk remedies such as petroleum jelly or nail polish. They don’t work.

Watch for symptoms.

• Symptoms of tickborne illness include a rash, fever/chills, headaches, fatigue and muscle aches. Lyme disease may also cause joint pain.

• The severity and onset of symptoms vary based on the disease. See your healthcare provider immediately if you have been bitten by a tick and experience any of these symptoms.

• Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the ODH recommend not having the tick tested. Tests performed on ticks are not always perfect. And if you have been infected, you’ll most likely develop symptoms before the results of the tick test are available.

The ODH website has more information on preventing tickborne illnesses and removing ticks. Visit the CDC’s What to Do After a Tick Bite page to try out an interactive tool that provides information about recommended actions and resources.

Source: Ohio Department of Health