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It's TICK SEASON!Helpful guidelines when caring for tick bites 
 Lyme disease is very prevalent in the northwest Wisconsin geographical area and is spread by Lyme-carrying ticks commonly known as deer or bear ticks. Deer/Bear ticks spread Lyme disease while the wood tick does not. Deer ticks (pictured left) are darker in color and lack the wood tick’s characteristic white markings.
Individuals who are high risk for exposure to deer ticks are hunters, campers, gardeners, and outdoor workers. High exposure means high risk for contracting Lyme disease. However, even individuals who are exposed can reduce the risk of tick bites. Nancy Magnine, Physician Assistant at Luck Medical Clinic, offered these simple guidelines:
1. Wear clothing that covers the skin (tuck in long pants, wear long sleeves)
2. Use chemical repellents such as DEET (not for young children) or picardin
3. Frequently inspect for ticks after being outside (one has several hours to find and remove a tick before it attaches and begins to feed)
4. Treat pets with tick repellents
5. Avoid grassy/brushy areas – these areas have the highest tick population
In the event that an attached deer tick is found, one can simply grasp the tick body as close to the skin as possible with tweezers or protected fingers and pull it off. Thorough cleansing of the area with soap and water after removal is important.
Tick bodies do not embed completely. It is usually the mouth parts that are retained under the skin. If left alone, the normal human skin function will wall off and expel it over a few days. Health professionals will not usually attempt to remove any retained tick parts.
Tick removal within 2-3 days is important to prevent transmission of Lyme disease. If one believes that a tick has been attached for greater than 36 hours or appears engorged, one should seek medical consultation for treatment.
Lyme disease usually manifests within 4-6 weeks following a bite. Initial symptoms vary, but may include fever, chills, headache, muscle or joint pain and a bull’s-eye rash. Magnine stated, “If you develop any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible, as it is important to begin appropriate treatment if necessary.”
Very few people die from Lyme disease, but early detection is key to treating Lyme disease and preventing further complications. If you have symptoms, don’t delay; call your healthcare professional right away.
Luck Medical Clinic, a division of Amery Regional Medical Center, is located at 137 First Avenue in Luck, Wisconsin. For more information, call (715) 472-2177. |
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Copyright 2002-2009 AMERY REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 265 Griffin Street East, Amery, Wisconsin 54001 • 1-800-424-KARE (5273) • (715) 268-8000
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