Dear Community

[MeDeFe]

I haven't ever been attacked by a tick (at least not that I've noticed), but our dogs get them quite regularly. During moments of slight intoxication I've contemplated starting a collection using some synthetic resin.

[pimpdave]

Yeah, any time you spend time outside, whether it's just mowing the lawn, or tromping through the woods, be sure to do a thorough check afterwards. If you're on a long camp out, check every day before the sun goes down.

I even spray OFF on my shoes before going through the woods (or even mowing the lawn). It's just a reality of which we all have to be aware.

[demonfork]

I had one attached to my taint once...it went undiagnosed for weeks cause I just figured that it was a dingle berry.

[AAFitz]

the ones that carry lyme are deer ticks which are visible enough, but the Nymphals are ridiculously small. I myself am sure to put lots of rubbing alcohol and antibiotic lube on any bite however, even a bee sting can give an infection, which can be anywhere from annoying to fatal.

Ive known three people in my very close family to all get lyme disease within the last year or so. Luckily they caught it early enough for the most part, but its a vicious disease.

The rash, which was described to me as a 100 mph fastball hitting the leg, is a blessing, because at that stage it is very treatable. The more it progresses, and often does without a rash, the more difficult it is to treat, and reverse any damage. Vigilance is the key as with anything else.

[PLAYER57832]

They used to talk about a "bull's eye" rash, but when my son had it, it was more like a huge mosquito bite. That is, a slightly swollen, elongated reddish patch.

HOWEVER, one important point is that neither of these are definite signs. Also, you will often test negative at that point, even if you do have it. Once you test positive, some symptoms have already progressed. It can impact joints, or, in later stages, reach the brain/cause coma even.

Luckily, it does seem to respond to antibiotics, particularly if it is caught early enough.

Anyway, bottom line: check yourself whenever you have been near vegetation (they like grass, bushes, etc... my kids get them from our yard & the woods). If you remove the tick within 48 hours you apparently won't get lymes. (per my kid's doctor) Otherwise, go outside and have fun!

Like I said earlier, if you live in a tick area, its worth getting one of those little plastic spoons with a slot. They do a GREAT job of removing deer and wood ticks (not sure about those tiny ones AA mentioned). If you have pets, get 2, I would say they work well for dogs as well.

[AAFitz]

They used to talk about a "bull's eye" rash, but when my son had it, it was more like a huge mosquito bite. That is, a slightly swollen, elongated reddish patch.

HOWEVER, one important point is that neither of these are definite signs. Also, you will often test negative at that point, even if you do have it. Once you test positive, some symptoms have already progressed. It can impact joints, or, in later stages, reach the brain/cause coma even.

Luckily, it does seem to respond to antibiotics, particularly if it is caught early enough.

Anyway, bottom line: check yourself whenever you have been near vegetation (they like grass, bushes, etc... my kids get them from our yard & the woods). If you remove the tick within 48 hours you apparently[Probably] won't get lymes. (per my kid's doctor) Otherwise, go outside and have fun!

Luckilly lymes is quite curable early with anti-biotics, so its likely that many get cured by accident, ie mis-diagnosis of a different infection, or lucky timing of another infection.

The problem with checking for ticks, is that the little ones are the size of a poppy seed. To really, insure you dont have a tick on you, Itll take the Star Trek tricorder. Also, it would be a bad time to use the teleportation pods. At least a fly can actually fly. Imagine becoming half tick?

[PLAYER57832]

The problem with checking for ticks, is that the little ones are the size of a poppy seed.

True, but those don't carry lymes.

In general, there is not that much risk from ticks, unless they are the kinds that carry either lymes or rocky mtn fever.