To protect yourself from Lyme disease you should avoid wooded and grassy areas, keep up to date with news about infestation and other information about ticks, spray pesticides in affected areas, use tick repellents, wear protective attire when going into infested areas, wash your hair thoroughly and dry the clothes you wore in infested areas.
Lyme disease is a bacterial illness that results from the bite of a certain type of tick. This disease is very common in the United States and affects different parts of the patient’s body including the joints, skin, eyes and heart. Symptoms of people infected by Lyme disease may include reddish rashes, headaches, fatigue and there are also symptoms that resemble the common flu. Here are some important tips on how you can keep yourself or your family from getting lyme disease.
Avoid wooded and grassy areas
Ticks are known to thrive in wooded and grassy places, even leaf litters. There is also a possibility that ticks will infest your lawn or garden if these are unfenced or exposed to wooded areas. Avoid these kinds of places, or if unavoidable, make sure that you stay within the trails and do not venture into the grass where ticks might stick to your clothing or any exposed skin.
Keep up to date with news about infestation and other information about ticks
Tick infections are most common from May through July because these are the months ticks are most active. It is good to be up to date with news about infested areas. You can ask the local health department or park service about places that are known to be infested so you can avoid them.
Spray pesticides in affected areas
If you notice a tick infestation around or near your home, you might want to spray pesticides in the affected area. One pesticide that is very effective and specifically made for exterminating ticks is “acaricide”. Timing and proper application of this pesticide can cause reductions of tick populations by as much as 68% to 100%.
Spray on tick repellents
Tick repellents are available, and you can use them on your clothes and shoes when going into possible infested areas. Choose repellents that contain 20%-30% of DEET.
Wear protective attire when going into infested areas
If it is unavoidable that you go into wooded and grassy areas, you can still protect yourself by wearing protective attire. Always wear long-sleeved tops, long pants, socks, shoes and a hat. You can tuck your pants into your socks to keep ticks from crawling inside your clothes. Avoid exposing any part of your skin or hair. It is also advisable that your clothing be of light color so it will be easier for you to see if any ticks have crawled onto the fabric.
Wash your hair thoroughly and dry the clothes you wore in infested areas
If you have gone into infested areas, it is best to shower your hair and vigorously apply shampoo to dislodge any ticks that might have stuck in your hair. As for the clothes you wore, you should put these in a dryer after washing and run the load in hot water for at least 30 minutes. Washing alone is not enough to kill any ticks that might have stuck on your clothing.
Like every disease and illness, prevention is always better at avoiding the health risks and negative effects of Lyme disease.
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