ASK AN EXPERT: How to prevent tick bites

MECOSTA — During the summer months ticks numbers rise and the risk of contracting diseases from them can do the same. Each year, about 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported to CDC by state health departments and the District of Columbia. Recent estimates using other methods suggest that about 476,000 people may get Lyme disease each year in the United States. As cases continue to show up, taking precautions during tick seasons can make a major difference in protecting yourself from potential exposure and bites. Dan Wolff is the founder of TickEase, a company producing the only patented CDC-compliant two-sided tweezer created expressly for the removal of embedded ticks from people and pets. Wolff has extensive experience with ticks and earned the nickname “Tick Man Dan” because he brings them everywhere he goes. To raise awareness, he wears shoes, shirts, and a watch emblazoned with tick pictures. He said his main goal is to raise awareness of the dangers of ticks. “I was trying to figure out what I could do for myself to help prevent exposure and what could lead to illness,” Wolff said. “I just really didn't find much on the topic of tick removal, and I saw a lot of old outdated information and a lot of contradictory information. I wanted to get to the bottom of it. “I'd come down to the idea that simple is better when it comes to removal,” he added. "Agitating the tick, putting poison, trying to suffocate it, trying to make it dizzy, using soap, a lit cigarette, a hot match, it's just not necessary. My goal is to help minimize the risk and the exposure to harmful pathogens from ticks for people for pets.” According to Michigan.gov, the most common type of tick in Michigan is the American dog tick, which is active from May-November and can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia. The second most common is the black-legged tick, which can commonly carry Lyme disease and rare diseases like anaplasmosis, babesiosis, deer-tick virus and ehrlichiosis. Other tick varieties also seen include the lone star tick, the woodchuck tick and the brown dog tick, all of which can carry potentially dangerous viruses. PERSONAL PROTECTION Wolff said there are simple steps that can be taken for personal protection. “Wear light-colored clothing because you can detect the tick while it's on you and before it starts biting you,” Wolff said. “If you were to stay in the middle of a trail, if you tuck your pants in your socks, that just makes it a little bit harder for them to get into the skin area. Wolff’s research revolves largely around deer ticks and the dangers they pose to humans and increasing the number of ticks tested and education being put out. When it comes to ticks, timely removal of these embedded pests is key as this reduces the transmission of saliva that could carry harmful diseases. Wolff’s advice is to avoid twisting the tick off or jerking the tick as this may cause the tick’s mouthparts to remain embedded in the skin. Using a Q-tip to circle the embedded tick to distract it and get it to detach is another old wive’s tale. “Ticks can get into the tiniest sort of creases and crevices that you can imagine,” Wolff said. “I would also recommend treating clothing with permethrin, which has been proven to be really effective against ticks. The trick is permethrin is to be used on apparel, and they come in mist bottles or spray bottles. You would apply that to the outside and the inside and you let it dry completely, then you're going to be protected for in the case of self-applying product, usually around six washes before you'll have to reapply it.” While some studies suggest Lyme transmission can take 24 to 72 hours after attachment, there are many other infections that you can get with varying transfer times. Powassan, a rare severe disease, causes headaches, vomiting, and fever, and may take as little as 15 minutes to contract. If bitten by a tick, you should use fine-tipped tweezers as recommended by the CDC, steadily grasp the tick, and using the tweezers take hold of the tick as close as possible to the skin’s surface and pull upward in a steady motion. Use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to clean the bite area and tweezers when done. Attached ticks should never be disposed of or destroyed. Keep them in a zip-loc bag for identification and testing. A diseased tick does not necessarily transmit illness. If you are bitten by a tick in an area where Lyme is prevalent, a physician may suggest and prescribe a precautionary dose of antibiotics to reduce the risk of getting infected. Wolff said doing a full tick check after being in the woods or on trails is key. “What I do is a full check with no clothes on,” Wolff said. “They can get anywhere, and looking everywhere is one way you can make sure you haven’t been bitten. Daily checks are also good if you live near the woods. I've actually had nymphs feed in my belly button. If bitten by a tick, Wolff suggests submitting it to a lab for analysis to see what you might potentially have been exposed to. “If the tick tests positive, does not mean that you've been exposed and that you're going to get sick," he added. "It's an individual thing, how you react to those pathogens, how your immune system reacts, and how you might react to actual infection. Some people don't even know it, some people are incredibly reactive. "Being vigilant about taking precautions and doing checks will help you stay safer, especially during the height of tick season.” For more information on ticks in Michigan, see the state website at michigan.gov/emergingdiseases/ticks. For information on TickEase and its product line, visit www.tickease.com.

Most Popular