By Caution, deer ticks are prevalent in the Fall. They live in piles of leaves, on wood piles and in tall grasses. Deer ticks are parasites and live on mammals, especially deer and mice. Wherever their hosts walk the ticks fall off onto the ground and then look for a new host – you or your pets.
Deer ticks carry Lyme disease, and several other tick-borne diseases. The rate of infection with Lyme disease is epidemic, especially here in the Northeast section of the United States. Lyme disease is a global health problem.
Infection with Lyme disease can be debilitating and life altering.
The most common symptoms of Lyme disease are flu-like symptoms (especially when it is not flu season) with malaise/fatigue and body aches. Another hallmark sign of infection can be a bull’s eye rash.
If you have persistent signs of declining health and decreasing ability to function, you may be infected with Lyme disease.
Enjoy the beauty of the Fall, but be cautious of deer ticks on you, your family, and your pets. Prevention of infection by deer ticks is the first step in changing this epidemic. The following are recommendations to avoid bites from deer ticks:
- Avoid tick infested environments (e.g. leaf piles, wood piles, and tall grass)
- Dress defensively (wear shoes, socks, long pants and long sleeves)
- Pull back long hair and wear a hat
- Spray footwear with permethrin to prevent ticks from crawling up your shoes
- Apply insect repellent to exposed skin
- Take a shower immediately after coming inside and check for ticks
- Placing clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes kills ticks
- Protect your pets from ticks (remember pets can carry deer ticks inside)
Learn more about Lyme disease in future posts and from lymedisease.org
