It's springtime and warm again. The flowers are blooming; the grass is green; the birds are singing; but beware.
In the spring, ticks emerge once again. They are out there with their back legs clinging to grasses and brush while their forward legs are suspended in the air waiting to latch onto their next meal -- you.
Though only about the size of a sesame seed, ticks are ominous enemies capable of transmitting diseases. They are parasites responsible for at least 10 different known diseases in humans in the United States. The most prevalent diseases caused by ticks in the Missouri area are Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).
Maria de la Torre, nursing supervisor at the McDonald County Health Department, said "The peek season for ticks in the Missouri area is May through September. The best way to combat tick diseases is prevention. Always wear protective clothing such as long sleeves, tuck pants into your socks and use repellents." Repellents with 20-50 percent DEET offers the best, well-rounded protection. Repellents containing up to 30 percent DEET can be used on children over two months old.
To avoid being bitten by ticks, walk in the center of trails to avoid overhanging brush and tall grass, de la Torre said. Ticks do not jump, fall or fly. They crawl and are generally found within three feet off the ground. Insect repellent containing DEET on your skin protects you because it interferes with ticks' ability to locate you. Permethrin, another repellent which is to be used on clothing, actually kills ticks and is designed to bind with fabric and persist through laundering when used according to the directions on the label.
After spending time outdoors, do a thorough body check for ticks. If you find a tick on your skin or on your animal, it should be removed promptly. To assure there are no live ticks on your clothing, tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat.
According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, ticks can infect in four to eight hours. Prompt treatment can prevent serious illness or death.
Below is the correct way to remove ticks and treat bites:
• using tweezers by grasping the tick near the mouth parts as close to the skin as possible;
• pull on the tick firmly, straight out, away from the skin; do not jerk or twist the tick;
• do not use alcohol, matches or petroleum jelly to remove the tick;
• wash your hands and the bite site with soap and water after the tick is removed;
• apply an antiseptic to the bite site;
• tell your doctor about removing a tick(s) if you develop symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, or rash.
Three tick species commonly encountered in Missouri are the lone star tick, the deer tick and the American dog tick. The lone star ticks have a white dot in the center of their backs. Males can have dots or white streaks on the edge of their bodies. Deer ticks' upper bodies and legs are black. American dog ticks are brown; blood-engorged females are gray.
Lone star ticks will also feed readily on other animals, including dogs and cats, and may be brought into the home on pets. The saliva from lone star ticks can be irritating; redness and discomfort at a bite site does not necessarily indicate an infection. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says, "Many people, even health care providers, can be confused about whether the lone star tick causes Lyme disease. It does not. Patients bitten by lone star ticks will occasionally develop a circular rash similar to the rash of early Lyme disease."
It is through the bite of infected deer ticks, according to the CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/index.html) that Lyme disease is transmitted to humans. Typical symptoms of Lyme disease, which occur three to 30 days after the tick bite, include fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash which has been called a "bull's-eye" rash since it is shaped like a bull's eye target.
After a number of days and weeks following the tick bite, there may be additional lesions on other areas of the body; loss of muscle tone on one or both sides of the face; severe headaches or neck stiffness; pain and swelling in the large joints; shooting pain which interferes with sleep; and heart palpitations and dizziness.
The total stages of Lyme disease (months to years after the tick bite) are intermittent bouts of arthritis, severe joint pain and swelling; some chronic neurological issues to include shooting pains; numbness or tingling of hands or feet and short term memory problems.
Lyme disease is the most widespread tick-borne disease in the United States according to the CDC. The CDC recently estimated that there may be 300,000 cases a year in this country, making it "a tremendous health problem."
The other prevalent disease caused by ticks in Missouri, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, is transmitted by American dog ticks which are brown.
Typical symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever include: fever, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and muscle pain. A rash may also develop, but is often absent in the first few days, and in some patients, never develops.
Dogs and people can get Rocky Mountain spotted fever from the same American dog ticks. Although it is normally found on dogs, this tick will also attack larger animals such as cattle and horses.
There are many products that can be applied to prevent or treat a tick infestation on an animal including topical treatments and sprays.
de la Torre said the McDonald County Health Department can provide information or answer questions regarding ticks. For more information call 417-223-4351.
Community on 05/14/2015