Newtown Health District’s 2005 ‘Tick’ Sheet

The following contains the information circulated to Newtown Public School students as a take home flyer on preventing Lyme disease:

 

Fight The Bite !

You and your family may be at risk — Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States today, and Connecticut has the highest case rate in the nation.

Lyme disease (and other tick-borne disease) is transmitted to humans by the bite of the tiny deer tick which lives in the brush and leaf litter found in and near the woods. The ticks become infected with the Lyme disease bacteria when they feed on white-footed mice and other small mammals.

Most human cases of Lyme disease are contracted in June, July, and August, when the tiny nymphal stage of the tick is most active. The tiny nymph is very small and hard to see.

Lyme disease often presents with a characteristic expanding rash, erythema migraines, accompanied by “flu-like” symptoms such as fever, malaise, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and joint aches. The incubation period from infection to onset of the rash is typically 7 to 14 days but may be as short as 3 days and as long as 30 days. Some infected individuals have no recognized illness, or manifest only nonspecific symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches.

There are two basic ways to prevent Lyme Disease (and other tick-borne disease):

Reduce the number of deer ticks, especially in areas where people spend time (around homes, schools, parks)

Use personal protection measures, such as protective clothing, repellent, doing daily tick checks, and prompt removal of ticks.

Reduce The Number Of Ticks In The Areas That You Enjoy

Ticks like to live in leaf litter and moist and shady areas. It is important to try to alter the landscape to increase sunlight and lower the humidity; this will make for a less desirable habitat for the ticks. Remove leaf litter, clean up stone walls, use wood chip borders along the yard edge, and moving play areas and swing sets out of the shade will all help reduce your potential exposure to the ticks.

Pesticides can also be applied; it’s important to remember that we want to reduce the overall use of pesticides. If pesticides are going to be applied, it is most beneficial to use techniques that don’t use chemicals; along with having a commercial pesticide applicator use the least toxic pesticides.

Protect Yourself And Your Family

Know where ticks live and avoid those areas: Ticks do not like sunny, dry areas; they like shade, shelter, and moisture. Areas to avoid are edges of yards, woods, roads, and trails. Ticks can be found in leaf litter, shaded gardens, weeds, tall grass, shrubs, low trees, and ground cover such as pachysandra. Also beware of areas under decks and along foundation as well as wood piles and stone walls.

Dress properly when entering areas that may be tick-infested: Wear long pants that are light-colored to allow easy identification of ticks. Tuck your pant legs into socks and shirt into pants. Tape pant legs and wear long sleeves when working near the ground. Cover hair with a hat. Tie long hair back.

Conduct tick checks daily (and even twice, three times a day when necessary): Check the entire body for ticks, including the hairline, waist, armpits, groin, and back of knees. Use full length and hand-held mirrors and a magnifying glass to make sure all areas of the body are checked. Family members should help check each other, especially the scalp. Also, check your pets daily.

Remove ticks promptly and properly: When spending time in tick-infested areas, check for ticks when leaving the area as well as at the end of the day. A tick does not pose a risk if it is found early and unattached. If a tick is attached, remove it using thin-tipped tweezers, grasping it where the mouthparts enter the skin. Pull upward in a slow and steady motion. Do not squeeze the tick or use other methods of removal (do not use petroleum jelly, a match, chemicals). If a small part of the tick mouthparts remain, do not dig to remove; the parts do not pose a threat with regard to contracting Lyme disease and will work themselves out. Clean the bite area with soap and water or an antiseptic.

Ticks removed from a Newtown resident can be brought to the Newtown Health District office at 31 Peck’s Lane (270-4291), where it can be sent out to the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station for testing (the test will determine if tick is infected with Lyme disease bacteria, if it is an adult, nymph, or larva, and the level of engorgement). It may take two–four-plus weeks to get the results; the testing is not for diagnostic purposes. It is important to be alert for early symptoms (flu-like symptoms, rash, illness) and to communicate with your health care professional.

Use insect repellents: DEET and Permethrin have been found to be effective as personal tick repellents. Repellent use is a personal decision and it is imperative that the product label instructions be followed carefully.