Tick Talk: Staying Safe in Nature

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Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by black-legged ticks, prevalent in the Northeastern United States since the 1980s. Symptoms typically begin with a distinctive bull's-eye rash and flu-like signs. Only a small fraction of ticks are carriers, and the risk of getting infected at the time of our retreat is reasonably small. Nevertheless, early intervention is crucial to avoid serious complications affecting the joints, nervous system, and heart. Although our retreat is scheduled outside the peak tick season, it remains essential to stay informed, vigilant, and follow the precautionary measures outlined in this information sheet.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks, commonly known as deer ticks. Once infected, individuals may show early symptoms such as a distinctive bull’s-eye rash, fever, headaches, and fatigue. If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead severe health issues, including joint pain, neurological problems, and heart complications.

How is Lyme disease transmitted?

It spreads to humans via deer ticks. From 5 to 45% deer ticks carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease of which at most 3% manage to transmit the disease. Humans with Lyme disease cannot infect others.

Where are ticks found?

They thrive in warm, humid climates and live in shady, moist areas at ground level, clinging to tall grass, brush and shrubs, 18-24 inches off the ground (45-60 cm). They also live at the edges of woods in lawns and gardens and around old stone walls. They get on humans by direct contact. Once a tick gets on the skin, it generally climbs upward until it reaches a protected area.

How can I prevent tick bites?

➔ Your best protection is to avoid contact with soil, leaf litter and vegetation. Specifically:

• Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
• Or clothing infused with permethrin. DEET is no longer considered an effective tick repellant.
• Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
• Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
• Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid contacting vegetation if possible.
• Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls and keep long hair tied back.
• Tumble 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, dry them completely and then dry for 10 minutes on high heat.

Homeopathic Lyme 200 taken 3-4 times per day has been said to be useful, starting 5 days before entering an infested area, and extending up to 5 days after leaving the area. We found one source to order it online in the US and Canada (https://tinyurl.com/Lyme200).

How can I check if I have tick bites?

Conduct a regular (daily or more frequently if you prefer) tick check. Prompt removal of ticks can prevent transmission of tick-borne pathogens. Nymphs are the size of the head of a pin, can be light colored, and you are unlikely to feel them crawling. To find them, you will need:

• Good lighting
• A tick-check buddy for hard-to-see places
• A mirror, and the important places to check are:

o In and around the hair, ears, armpits
o Inside the belly button, around the waist, groin and buttocks
o Behind the knees, and between the toes and ankles.

If I find one, now what?

Use tweezers: grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Gently pull the tick in a steady, upward motion. Wash the area with disinfectant. Wash your hands thoroughly.

• DO NOT touch the tick with your bare hands.
• DO NOT squeeze the body of the tick as this may increase your risk of infection.
• DO NOT put alcohol, nail polish remover or Vaseline on the tick.
• DO NOT put a hot match or cigarette on the tick to make it “back out.”

While removing a tick, the tick’s mouthparts may break off and remain in your skin. These mouthparts alone cannot transmit Lyme disease but may lead to an infection. Carefully monitor the area for the next few days.

If I’m in a tick-infested area, what should I watch out for?

During and for the few weeks after having been to a tick infected area, watch out for any signs or symptoms of early Lyme disease. These may include:

• An expanding skin rash, called erythema migrans
• Fatigue, chills and/or fever
• Headache, muscle and/or joint pain

• Swollen lymph nodes. The skin rash is often reddish or purple-colored and appears 3–30 days after the bite of an infected tick. It typically appears at the site of the tick bite, is round or oval, and expands gradually over several days. It can appear on any area of the body. The center of the rash sometimes clears as it enlarges, resulting in a “bull’s-eye” appearance. The rash may be warm, but it is rarely itchy or painful. Erythema migrans occurs in over 70 percent of people with Lyme disease infestation.

This means that 30% of infected people do not get a rash. Therefore, if you experience any of the above symptoms without a rash, get tested. Acute Lyme can be cured easily; chronic Lyme is far more serious. Early diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment is crucial. Most people treated with appropriate antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease recover rapidly and completely.

This information sheet is not intended to provide medical advice. It includes information from various websites, including generally accepted information, but please don’t take anything at face value but conduct your own research.

Relevant website may include:

• www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html
• www.mountsinai.org/health-library/condition/lyme-disease
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCcxSmeL98g
• www.tinyurl.com/TicksForCampers
• www.homeopathicmd.com/2012/04/homeopathy-and-lyme-disease/