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Tips to keep deer ticks at bay
By Jennifer Heshion | Apr 20, 2013
Although it may not seem like summer is on it's way, soon the warm weather will have residents exploring the great outdoors. But, before you put on your hiking boots or play with your kids in the backyard, it's best to be cautious of pesky deer ticks that can transmit Lyme disease, says student nurse Carley Lakritz.
If contracted, the disease is a bacterial infection that can, among other things, cause fatigue, joint pain, and even problems with your heart or nervous system.
Being prepared and knowing how to take action is half the battle, said Lakritz, who is currently working with the Marion Board of Health.
“The highest prevalence for contracting Lyme disease is in the summer months,” Lakritz said. “There are a lot of deer and ticks in this area.”
In 80 percent of cases, a red ring-like or expanding rash from the center of a bite will appear. This is known as a “Bulls eye rash,” Lakritz said.
Symptoms can include a fever, muscle aches, headaches, swollen lymph glands, fatigue, mild neck stiffness, facial paralysis, chills, and joint pain.
In some cases, symptoms may not appear until weeks or years after the initial infection. These symptoms can include arthritis, recurring joint pain and swelling, severe fatigue, nerve pain, meningitis, and cardiac problems.
“The effects can be felt years after the initial infection,” Lakritz said.
There are several preventative measures residents can take to keep deer ticks at bay, Lakritz said. These include keeping grass cut short, removing leaf litter and brush from around the yard, pruning low lying bushes to let in more sunshine, and keeping woodpiles and bird feeders off the ground and away from the house.
Lakritz also urged residents to use pest control products on plants.
As for personal prevention, Lakritz said residents should check themselves for ticks daily, wear long-sleeved and light colored shirts, and stick to main pathways and trails when hiking.
Pets should also be checked daily, Lakritz said.
“Pets can carry ticks which can then come off the pet and onto a person,” Lakritz said.
If a tick is found on someone, Lakritz said it’s best to use pinpoint tweezers to pull the tick off and to contact your primary physician.
By Jennifer Heshion | Apr 20, 2013
Although it may not seem like summer is on it's way, soon the warm weather will have residents exploring the great outdoors. But, before you put on your hiking boots or play with your kids in the backyard, it's best to be cautious of pesky deer ticks that can transmit Lyme disease, says student nurse Carley Lakritz.
If contracted, the disease is a bacterial infection that can, among other things, cause fatigue, joint pain, and even problems with your heart or nervous system.
Being prepared and knowing how to take action is half the battle, said Lakritz, who is currently working with the Marion Board of Health.
“The highest prevalence for contracting Lyme disease is in the summer months,” Lakritz said. “There are a lot of deer and ticks in this area.”
In 80 percent of cases, a red ring-like or expanding rash from the center of a bite will appear. This is known as a “Bulls eye rash,” Lakritz said.
Symptoms can include a fever, muscle aches, headaches, swollen lymph glands, fatigue, mild neck stiffness, facial paralysis, chills, and joint pain.
In some cases, symptoms may not appear until weeks or years after the initial infection. These symptoms can include arthritis, recurring joint pain and swelling, severe fatigue, nerve pain, meningitis, and cardiac problems.
“The effects can be felt years after the initial infection,” Lakritz said.
There are several preventative measures residents can take to keep deer ticks at bay, Lakritz said. These include keeping grass cut short, removing leaf litter and brush from around the yard, pruning low lying bushes to let in more sunshine, and keeping woodpiles and bird feeders off the ground and away from the house.
Lakritz also urged residents to use pest control products on plants.
As for personal prevention, Lakritz said residents should check themselves for ticks daily, wear long-sleeved and light colored shirts, and stick to main pathways and trails when hiking.
Pets should also be checked daily, Lakritz said.
“Pets can carry ticks which can then come off the pet and onto a person,” Lakritz said.
If a tick is found on someone, Lakritz said it’s best to use pinpoint tweezers to pull the tick off and to contact your primary physician.
