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Understanding Lyme Disease -- Prevention
How Can I Prevent Lyme Disease?
Tips for preventing Lyme disease include the following:
- Because infection does not occur until a tick has been attached for at least 24 hours, a thorough daily tick check can be an effective first-line defense.
- Be aware that the ticks are very small, although they are larger when engorged with blood.
- If you spend time outdoors in areas inhabited by deer ticks, wear shoes, long pants tucked into socks or pant legs, and long sleeves.
- Use insect repellent with 20%-30% DEET around your ankles, other areas of exposed skin, and clothes.
- If you work or walk in brushy areas or woods, check regularly for ticks; they are easier to see against light clothing. Check especially around the armpits, groin, scalp, and belt line -- plus the neck and head. Check pets often, as well.
- If possible, avoid tick-infested areas, particularly in May, June, and July.
- If you're in tick-infested areas, walk in the center of trails to avoid overgrown grass and leaf litter.
- If you do find a deer tick on your skin, remove it immediately.
How to Remove a Deer Tick Safely
- With tweezers, grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible, pulling gently and steadily.
- Be patient trying to remove the tick. Ticks secrete a special substance that "cements" them to your skin.
- Save the tick for identification, if possible. Wash the bite with soap and water.
- If the tick's mouth parts remain embedded in your skin, make sure to remove them.
- Don't attempt to burn a tick with a lit match or use other products (like petroleum jelly) on the tick.
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by
Debbie Bridges, MD on March 28, 2012
© 2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
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