Warmer weather and the Easter bank holiday is a cause for celebration for many, and allows people to get outside and exercise. Lots of people, understandably, do so in the countryside, but Sirona care & health is urging people to be aware of ticks as they do so.
“It’s important to be tick-aware all year round, but particularly in the spring and summer months,” says Michelle Whittle, Same-day Urgent Care Manager at Sirona. This is when ticks are most active – and also when many people like getting out and about in the countryside, where ticks tend to live.
It’s best to prevent tick bites before they happen, Michelle says. “If you’re out in the countryside or your kids are playing in long grass, be sure to cover up: wear long trousers tucked into your socks and long sleeves to protect your skin from exposure to ticks.
“You can also reduce your chances of getting bitten by sticking to clear paths, wearing insect repellent – preferably those containing deet – and wearing light-coloured clothing so any ticks are easier to see and brush off.
Once you’re done, Michelle says it’s important to check yourself for ticks: “After a walk, check yourself, your kids, and your pets for ticks. Ticks like the warmth, so warm areas like your armpits and groin are common places for ticks to attach themselves.”
If you do spot a tick, Michelle says to remove it as soon as possible using a tick removal tool, which can usually be found in pet shops, vets, and online.
She says: “Keep a tick removal tool in your medicine cabinet or first-aid kit at home.
“If you do spot a tick after a walk, slide the head of the removal tool around the tick, making sure to grip the tick as close to your skin as possible – this will ensure you get hold of the tick’s entire body. Twist the remover tool slowly clockwise to unwind the tick; as you do this, steadily and gently pull the tick away from your skin – this should ensure the whole tick is removed.
“Wash the tick down the plughole and then wash your skin with soap and water, then apply antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite.”
Although ticks can cause serious illness, such as Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis, such instances are rare. There is, therefore, no need to seek medical attention unless you develop the following symptoms within three months:
- A bullseye rash around where you were bitten
- Flu-like symptoms
- A facial droop
- Nerve pains and numbness
- Tingling in the hands or feet
If you do develop any of these after a tick bite, it could be a sign of Lyme disease, so contact your GP or call NHS 111 promptly. Remember that some people may not have realised they were bitten by a tick, so it’s important to still get medical attention even if you don’t remember being bitten.
Between four and six per cent of tick bites in England and Wales result in Lyme disease. It is treatable, but if left untreated the infection can spread and affect the nervous system, joints, or the heart.
Michelle says: “While ticks can carry serious disease, they are easy to prevent and can be removed safely by anyone. Be tick aware by buying a tick remover now, then remember to cover up, check yourself, twist any ticks out and monitor for symptoms.”
