Preventing
Lyme Disease Begins By Tackling Ticks
Ticks are more than just a nuisance pest. They have the potential to carry major disease organisms including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme disease and Erlichiosis, affecting people and animals. These diseases represent a significant public health threat, with Lyme disease becoming one of the most common vector-borne disease in the U.S. today.
Symptoms of tick-borne troubles include: fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, stiff neck, rash and usually a lesion around the bite. If untreated, these health problems can be severe and involve long-term treatment.
While you can not be completely assured that you will not come into contact with ticks you can reduce your risk of exposure with these precautions:
- Wear light-colored clothing.
- Stay near the center of trails and avoid small shrubs and tall grass.
- Tuck you pant legs into socks or boots. Wear a long sleeved shirt tucked into your pants.
- Tick repellents are available to use separately on skin and clothing and are effective in reducing exposure. Caution: do not apply the repellent for your clothes to your skin. As with any chemical application, read the label and follow directions.
- Check yourself, family and pets frequently for ticks if you are in a tick-infested area.
If you do discover a tick, grasp its mouthparts as close to the skin as possible with a fine tweezer and firmly and steadily pull back. Apply an antiseptic to the wound. Describe any symptoms of a tick bite to a doctor.
If you would like to find out about OZANE’S TICK TREATMENT PROGRAM and additional steps you as a homeowner can take to reduce your exposure to ticks, please call our office.