Ticks, those nasty little critters that we all hope to avoid, are proliferating this time of year just as the wildflowers and grasses are. I've seen mention of them lately on Facebook and my husband Ralph recently managed to pick one up, so they've been on my mind.
So, even though I have personally had only one incident where I've had to have a tick removed -- and I've hiked thousands of wilderness miles -- I thought I'd share what I've learned about these minute arthropods.
Knowing a bit about how ticks operate can provide us with some ideas on how to avoid them. Ticks that we might expect to encounter in the S.F. Bay Area usually will be found hanging from the top of tall grasses, sitting amidst a pile of leaf litter, or on a log waiting for a host to pass by. When ticks sense carbon dioxide as well as the heat and movement of people (or other animals) going by, they grab hold with their extended front legs
Prevention:
Stay on established trails rather than traveling cross-country and avoid overhanging grasses along the trail.
Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when hiking, preferably of a light color so that the dark ticks will show up against the fabric. In addition, tuck your pants' cuffs into your socks or boots.
Use repellent. For adults, use DEET (20 - 30% strength or more) on skin and clothing. Use Permethrin on clothing only for even greater protection.
When you return home, shed your clothes -- preferably in the tub -- and check for any hitchhiking ticks. The saliva of a tick often numbs the area where it has bitten, so many times people do not feel the bite.
Removal:
According to many sources, it takes several hours or even days for a tick to attach itself. If you do discover one after it has imbedded itself into your skin, you should extract it carefully following the procedures given below. Applying gasoline, Vaseline, or holding a match nearby are not recommended.
To remove a tick, first put on rubber gloves or use a tissue to protect your hands and then use pair of sharp-tipped tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull gently and firmly without twisting to extract it. After extraction, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and then apply an antiseptic. If possible save the tick in a stoppered bottle in case you need to have it identified at a later time.
Diseases:
There are a number of diseases that ticks can cause worldwide, but the disease that we hear most about in California is Lyme disease, which is transmitted by the tiny western black-legged tick. In 2008, the latest statistics available at the California Department of Public Health, the rate of incidence was 74 per 100,000 population.
Symptoms:
Symptoms that may occur include a round red rash, and/or flu-like complaints such as headaches, sore muscles and joints, fever.
Treatment:
Most people who get a tick bite don't get Lyme Disease. However, if you experience the Lyme Disease symptoms 3 days to a month after you have been bitten (or think you may have been because you've been in an area with higher incidence or have been hiking or camping), seek immediate medical treatment because early treatment with antibiotics is best.
Further resources:
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
California Lyme Disease Association
California Department of Public Health (CDPH)
Printable brochure published by the California Department of Health Services
As always when hiking, enjoy your adventure, but go prepared and safely.
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