Tick Bite Prevention & Lyme Disease
AVOIDING TICK BITES - NH Dept of Health and Human Services
- Stay on trails outdoors; avoid areas of overgrown brush and tall grasses.
- Wear light-colored clothes so ticks can easily be seen.
- Wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt and long pants.
- Tuck shirts into pants, and pants into socks.
- Consider using insect repellent containing DEET. Clothes may be treated with permethrin. FOLLOW LABELING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY!
- Check after every two or three hours of outdoor activity for ticks on clothing and skin. A thorough check of body surfaces for attached ticks should be done at the end of the day. Promptly remove any attached ticks. The chance of Lyme disease transmission increases with duration of time an infected tick is attached; if a tick is attached for fewer than 24 hours the chance of Lyme disease transmission is extremely small.
- Reduce the number of ticks around your home where people spend time by keeping grass short, removing leaf litter, and creating a wood chips or gravel barrier where your lawn meets the woods.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LYME DISEASE- NH DHHS
Lyme disease is characterized by a large reddish rash around or near the site of the tick bite. Multiple rash sites may also appear. During the rash stage, or occasionally prior to the rash, other symptoms such as chills, fever, headache, fatigue, stiff neck, swollen glands, and muscle and/or joint pain may be present. If untreated, people may progress to neurologic, joint, and heart illness. Individuals should monitor their health closely after a tick bite and be alert for any signs and symptoms of illness. If an individual has signs or symptoms of Lyme disease (regardless of a recognized tick bite), they should promptly seek medical attention. Antibiotics are effective in treating Lyme disease. Early diagnosis improves the outcome of treatment so it is important to contact a healthcare provider if an individual is feeling sick or develops a rash.
HOW TO REMOVE A TICK - NH DHHS
Grasp the mouthparts with a tweezer as close as possible to the attachment (skin) site. If tweezers are not available, use fingers shielded with tissues or rubber gloves. Do not handle a tick with bare hands. Be careful not to squeeze, crush, or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids. It is important that a tick be removed as soon as it is discovered. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the tick site with rubbing alcohol or antibacterial wash and then wash hands with hot water and soap. See or call a doctor if there are concerns about incomplete tick removal. Do not attempt to remove ticks by using petroleum jelly, lit cigarettes, or other home remedies because they may actually increase the chance of contracting a tick-borne disease.
