It's springtime and warm again. The flowers are blooming; the grass is green; the birds are singing; but beware.
In the spring, ticks emerge once again. They are out there with their back legs clinging to grasses and brush while their forward legs are suspended in the air waiting to latch onto their next meal -- you.
Though only about the size of a sesame seed, ticks are ominous enemies capable of transmitting diseases. They are parasites responsible for at least 10 different known diseases in humans in the United States. The most prevalent diseases caused by ticks in the Ozarks are Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).
Maria de la Torre, nursing supervisor at the McDonald County Health Department, said "The peak season for ticks in (this) area is May through September. The best way to combat tick diseases is prevention. Always wear protective clothing such as long sleeves, tuck pants into your socks and use repellents." Repellents with 20 percent to 50 percent DEET offers the best, well-rounded protection. Repellents containing up to 30 percent DEET can be used on children who are at least two months old.
To avoid being bitten by ticks, walk in the center of trails to avoid overhanging brush and tall grass, de la Torre said. Ticks do not jump, fall or fly. They crawl and are generally found within three feet of the ground. Insect repellent containing DEET on your skin protects you because it interferes with ticks' ability to locate you. Permethrin, another repellent which is to be used on clothing, actually kills ticks and is designed to bind with fabric and persist through laundering when used according to the directions on the label.
After spending time outdoors, do a thorough body check for ticks. If you find a tick on your skin or on your animal, it should be removed promptly. To assure there are no live ticks on your clothing, tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat.
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, ticks can infect in four to eight hours. Prompt treatment can prevent serious illness or death.
Below is the correct way to remove ticks and treat bites:
• Using tweezers by grasping the tick near the mouth parts as close to the skin as possible;
• Pull on the tick firmly, straight out, away from the skin; do not jerk or twist the tick;
• Do not use alcohol, matches or petroleum jelly to remove the tick;
• Wash your hands and the bite site with soap and water after the tick is removed;
• Apply an antiseptic to the bite site;
• Tell your doctor about removing a tick(s) if you develop symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, or rash.
Three tick species commonly encountered in the Ozarks are the lone star tick, the deer tick and the American dog tick. Lone star ticks have a white dot in the center of their backs. Males can have dots or white streaks on the edge of their bodies. Deer ticks' upper bodies and legs are black. American dog ticks are brown; blood-engorged females are gray.
Lone star ticks will also feed readily on other animals, including dogs and cats, and may be brought into the home on pets. The saliva from lone star ticks can be irritating; redness and discomfort at a bite site does not necessarily indicate an infection. Centers for Disease Control states that "Many people, even health-care providers, can be confused about whether the lone star tick causes Lyme disease. It does not. Patients bitten by lone star ticks will occasionally develop a circular rash similar to the rash of early Lyme disease."
Community on 06/03/2015