- ranges in size from a poppy seed to a sesame seed, depending on its stage of life.
- is found all along the eastern coast in tall grasses, brush, and wooded areas.
Avoid places where ticks are found; stay inside trails, avoid brush and leaf litter.
Use insect repellent with DEET. (7% or less is safe for kids over 2 months of age)
While camping/hiking apply permethrin to boots, clothing, and gear.
Upon coming indoors:Check for ticks on clothing and gear
Check pets
Shower
Check yourself/your child’s body, paying special attention to groin, armpits, scalp, belly button, around the waist, in/around ears. Don’t just check exposed areas! They climb on anywhere, but they tend to crawl up to these hidden places to attach themselves. If you find a tick loose in clothing, flush it down the toilet to get rid of it. If you do find an attached tick, remove it right away! The good news is, in most cases, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours before the disease bacterium can be transmitted. Tick Removal:Fine tipped tweezers are all you need to grip the tick firmly and as close to the skin as possible.
Pull upward with steady, even pressure.
Don’t crush a tick with your bare hands! Get rid of it by flushing it!
The CDC has specific tick removal instructions on their website for reference .https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html Testing of ticks is generally not recommended.- Tick testing labs are not held to the same high standards of quality control as clinical diagnostic labs.
- Results of tick testing should not be used for treatment decisions.
- Positive results do not necessarily mean you have been infected.
- Negative results may give false reassurance.
- If you have been infected, your symptoms may present before the test results are available.
Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, joint aches, swollen lymph nodes
Classic “bullseye” rash:
Seen in about 70-80% of Lyme Disease cases
Typically, at the site of the tick bite
Begins an average 7 days after tick bite (but ranges from 3-30)
Rash is rarely itchy or painful and sometimes expands in size over time
A diagnosis of Lyme is made based on:Signs/symptoms
History of possible exposure to infected black-legged ticks
Lab testing when used appropriately
Lyme Disease is treated with antibiotics. Fortunately, recovery is usually rapid and complete for those who are treated early and with appropriate antibiotics. Unfortunately, there is not a simple blood test to diagnose Lyme immediately. The lab testing, we use is accurate, but not until 4-6 weeks after a tick bite. For this reason, prevention, early tick removal and a close watch for early symptoms are extremely important in battling Lyme disease. The CDC’s website has a ton of sound advice on ticks, prevention and the many diseases that ticks transmit. It’s definitely worth checking out to learn more! https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/ Allied Physicians Group is a partnership of more than 150 dedicated, caring physicians and 350 highly trained support staff. Allied serves over 180,000 patients with offices throughout Greater New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and beyond. Founded in 2006, Allied Physicians Group is a recognized leader in increasing healthcare efficiencies and patient satisfaction, emphasizing support, innovation, and collaboration. If you are looking for a Pediatrician near you click here or for more information please visit https://alliedphysiciansgroup.com/.