Macs Adventure Blog How to avoid the perils associated with ticks?

While I am ahuge fan of all things wild and wonderful and tend to spend much of my walkingtime studying the fauna, there is one family of animals that I do tend to shyaway from, the ticks! While all wildlife has its attractions, the fact thatticks pose dangerous health risks is the reason that you need to be aware oftheir presence also.What arethey, where do they live, and what do they do?Tiny membersof the spider family, they live and love to suck the blood of larger animals,such as deer, foxes, badgers and sheep. However, when your seismic footfallsends such large fauna fleeing, the ticks may then turn to humans for theirdaily feed. They can turn up in a variety of habitats, including woodland,heath and moorland and even gardens and pub lawns (I know this because I once hadan uncomfortable experience in a beer garden on a Scottish Island).With anincrease in deer populations throughout the UK, and their penchant for visitingnew areas including urban environments, the ticks follow, and they aretherefore on the increase also. Their method to find a tasty host is to wait inthe vegetation for a passing animal, and they have extremely acute senses toassist, including their ability to sense heat and expelled carbon dioxide. As a deer brushes past, or your legs movethrough the bushes and grass, they will be waiting, and they can be on youbefore you know it!Indeed, youmay not feel them on you at all, but they tend to head up your legs to thegroin, armpits, neck and hairline where they then begin to feed. Following (andindeed during) a walk, I have found them in all sorts of places, so it isimportant that you have a very thorough search all over, and that includes yourclothes! They can be tiny, but once they have had a feed, their fat, blood richbodies can be easier to see.The healthissues and why you need to be aware!So, what isall the fuss about? Okay, apart from the fact that a blood sucking animal isenjoying you as its new host, which makes for a rather an unpleasantconversation at parties, the health risks of tick bites is a real concern. Tickstransmit bacteria when they feed, and this can lead to Lyme disease, avery unpleasant infectious ailment that manifests itself with flu like symptomsat the start, with associated muscle and joint pain, headaches, chills and ageneral 'unwell feeling'.You may alsonotice an expanding red rash at the site of the tick bite that can appear aweek after occurrence. If you have started to feel unwell or noted anyunusual symptoms during or following your sojourn into the countryside, it isimperative that you visit a doctor to get checked out. While a course of antibioticswill be effective in most cases, left untreated, Lyme disease can go on tocreate yet further even more serious conditions, so diagnosis and treatmentis of critical importance.Preventionis better than the cureThe idealscenario of course is not to get bitten. Easier said than done perhaps, whenyou are wading waste deep in bracken! Firstly, before you even depart for thegreat outdoors, liberally apply insect repellent, which you will have done anywayif you are heading into 'midgie country'! Light coloured clothing is a goodidea also, as it makes it much easier to spot the tiny terrors when they aremaking their way up your trousers. Long sleeves and long trousers, with yoursocks tucked in, or wearing gaiters will all evidently assist in preventingimmediate access to your skin. If possible, try to keep to the centre ofpaths, away from overhanging or trail side vegetation. Keep vigilant even whenyou are out on open grassland, as you may be out of the woods literally, butnot figuratively!When you areback at home or have arrived at your accommodation on your current adventure,take a shower and undertake your 'full body tick inspection'. If you haveaccess to a washing machine, washing and tumble-drying clothes on a high heatcan be effective at removing any further threat.Help, Ihave a tick on me!Firstly, donot panic! I have many ticks on me over the year, perhaps not as many as mydog, 'Biggles', but quite a few and have removed all with a minimum of effort.There are many 'old wives tales' out there about the best method to removethem, and in my experience, they are just that and are not effective. The besttried and tested method and the only one to consider is to remove the tick witha tick remover! This is a small tool with a hooked cleft on the bottomwhich you slide between the tick and the skin. A bit of careful force andwithout twisting the body to leave the mouth parts still attached, voila, thetick is off! Fine tweezers are also good, but a tick removal tool can easily bepicked up online or in a good outdoor shop.Once thetick is off, it is good if you can swab the affected area with a bacterial wipeand wash with soap and water when you get the chance. Then keep an eye on the area over the comingweeks. If you note any unusual symptoms, such as those described, above head tothe doctor and do not forget to say that you have been bitten by a tick!Tick allthe boxes and relax!Most tickbites are not an issue, so I do not want to put you off heading into thecountryside. Just be vigilant and if you are bitten, stay calm, deal with theissue and follow up with the doctor if necessary. Remember, there is a plethoraof interesting fauna to observe in these very same environments, and it just sohappens that the tick has cottoned on to this also!The post How to avoid the perils associated with ticks? appeared first on Blog - Macs Adventure.