Tick Prevention and Management
I am sure you all are seeing the reports that this spring and summer will be “the worst” tick season to date. While it is good to be aware of an increase in tick activity, these kinds of statements tend to cause more fear than helpful education for parents when it comes to tick prevention and treatment for their children.
Ticks can cause a myriad of diseases, with Lyme Disease being the most commonly feared when parents notice a tick crawling on their child. The purpose of this post is to provide helpful information, educate parents, and provide reassurance, not fear. The following is information you can use to help prevent ticks from invading your home and property as well as know what to do if you find a tick crawling on your kids. Remember that this information is for educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Always check with your child’s provider first.
Prevention:
1. Plant lavender, mint, lemon grass, or rosemary. Their oils and natural scents are meant to be keep ticks and other bugs at bay and grow in clumps that you can plant directly in your garden or in pots around your home.
2. Essential oils: If you are unable to plant the herbs mentioned above, you can use essential oils to spray around the entrances of your home or on you and your children’s clothes to keep them at bay. Remember that any sprays that contain those oils can cause allergic reactions so always use caution and purchase them from verified sellers such as DoTerra.
3. Pet care: Animals such as dogs are especially prone to catching ticks and bringing them in the house or passing them onto their owners. Remember to always check them after spending time outside and use all natural tick repellant and discuss other tick prevention options your vet.
4. Chickens: If you have chickens, consider letting them free-range as they love eating ticks and not only keep your loveable birds fed, but lower that pesky tick population (I own chickens so any chance I get to talk about them I will!)
You don’t have to stay inside, and neither do your furry friends! Just always do a tick check of both humans and pets when you come inside from spending a gorgeous day outside. Checking the entire body when you come in the house, before a bath or shower is important to grab those ticks before they get a chance to bite. Always make sure to be thorough in certain areas such as behind and in ears, hair, armpits, and groin as ticks can be tricky to catch there.
What to do when you find a tick:
1. If a tick has already bitten your child, don’t try and yank it off with tweezers. The goal is to remove the tick safely with the head and body intact to prevent transmission of diseases. There are tick removal tools you can use, but also dipping a Q-Tip in soap (like Dawn dish soap) and swirling it around the head and body can help remove the whole tick, head and all.
2. Save the tick: It is important that you save the tick as you can send it off for testing to see if any treatment is necessary before signs and symptoms start. Make sure if you place it in a plastic bag or jar that it is sealed tight! Ticks are small and can escape very easily. Check with your child’s provider and county to see where you can send it to in order to receive quick and easy results.
3. Clean the area with mild soap and water.
4. If any redness or rash develops immediately, mark the area with a washable marker or surgical marker if you have it. Take a picture of the bite. This can help both you and your provider monitor if the redness is getting worse or if anything additional, such as swelling, develops.
5. A tick is still a bug and can cause sensitivity reactions that can respond to medications such as Benadryl or topical treatments. Make sure you contact your provider to see if this is a step you can take.
6. Monitor for signs and symptoms over the next few weeks that mimic the flu such as fever, fatigue, complaints of joint pain, developing rash, or headaches. Not everyone gets a rash when they get bit by a tick. I know the classic bullseye is what parents think they should look for, but be sure to monitor for the above symptoms as well.
7. Trust your gut. Follow the steps above but always know that you are the parent and best advocate for your child. While it can take several weeks for symptoms to develop, if there are any major symptoms that develop in the few days following the tick bite, be sure to bring your child to be seen as they may be eligible for prophylactic treatment.
As annoying and worrisome as ticks can be (believe me I cannot stand finding them), this does not mean you have to hide in your house all summer. Focus on preventative measures and always perform a body check on kids, pets, and yourself when you come in the house.
