Nursing Blog: Preventing Tick Bites

Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September). There are two species of ticks common in Massachusetts—the Deer Tick (Ixodes scapularis) and the Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabillis). An adult Deer Tick is substantially smaller than the more common Dog Tick.

Prepare Before Going Outdoors

• Be aware of places to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Many people get ticks in their own yard or neighborhood.
• Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents external icon containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 2-undecanone. Always follow product instructions. Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
• Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter, and walk in the center of trails.
• Dress Appropriately: Wear light-colored socks, pants, and a long-sleeved shirt and tuck in everything (pants into socks, shirt into pants).

When Returning Indoors

• Check your clothing for ticks. Any ticks that are found should be removed. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. If the clothes are damp, additional time may be needed. If the clothes require washing first, hot water is recommended. Cold and medium temperature water will not kill ticks.
• Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later.
• Shower when returning inside. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tick borne diseases. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.
• Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Make sure to check your children and pets also. Check these parts of the body for ticks:

 What to Do If You Find a Tick

If you discover an embedded tick, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your skin’s surface as possible and pull straight out with steady, even pressure. Make sure all of the tick is removed. If you wish to have it tested for Lyme, immediately place the tick in a sealable plastic bag.

Cleanse the bite area with rubbing alcohol and wash your hands with soap and water. Make a note of the date as well as the location on your body where the tick was discovered and call your doctor to determine next steps.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and rarely, Borrelia mayonii. It is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks.

Typical symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. Common “bullseye” rash shown below:

 Examples various presentations of the erthema mirgrans rash: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/resources/NCEZID_rash_poster3r1-508.pdf

Most cases of Lyme disease can be treated successfully with a few weeks of antibiotics. However, if left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system. Steps to prevent Lyme disease include using insect repellent, wearing proper clothing, removing ticks promptly, applying pesticides, and reducing tick habitat.

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022)