Summer often brings to mind happy images of kids romping through open fields, picnics, camping and a host of other outdoor recreation. At the same time, you might worry over a less pleasant thought: tick bites. The American Lyme Disease Foundation reports that about half the deer ticks in the Northeast carry the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Prevention and preparation can help you keep your child safe during tick season.
Types of Ticks
There are hundreds of kinds of ticks. The Illinois Department of Health says that dog, deer and lone star ticks make up the most common types that you will encounter. They are arachnids although commonly called insects. Some of infectious diseases attributed to these pests include Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. They are all tiny, with deer ticks being the smallest, measuring about the size of a pinhead. Ticks crawl onto passing hosts; they don't jump.
Risk Areas
In areas where ticks are pervasive, your child could pick up a tick from a shrub or a hiking trail with equal ease. They gravitate toward wooded or grassy areas in the Northeast or upper Midwest, and crawl onto animals that brush past. When your child has been in these areas, check him thoroughly. Focus on armpits, navel, backs of knees, hairline, behind the ears and groin. Inspect your pets' coats as well.
Prevention Methods
Because ticks look for skin to attach to, your child should cover up with snug-fitting socks, long sleeves and pants in tick-infested areas. Light-colored clothing makes it easier to spot the tiny stowaways. Several insect repellents are available as sprays, lotions, moist wipes or wristbands. Many contain DEET, but there are natural alternatives too. If you choose a DEET-based product for your child, use one with about 10 percent to 30 percent of the chemical.
What Not to Do
If you see a tick on your child, your first impulse might be to pluck it off with your fingers. You might have heard advice, such as applying a hot match to the tick, or smothering it with Vaseline or other substances. According to "American Family Physician," those methods and others may "cause harm by inducing the tick to salivate and regurgitate into the host." This may increase the chances of your child contracting an illness.
Safe Handling of Tick Bite
With fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick's head as close to the skin as you can. KidsHealth.org counsels, "Firmly and steadily pull the tick straight out of the skin. Do not twist the tick or rock it from side to side while removing it." Disinfect the area and wash your hands. You can save the tick in a baggie for your doctor to test. It often presents as a red bull's-eye shaped rash around the bite area. Symptoms can take several weeks to appear.
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