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COMMUNITY
Tick-ing Time Bombs
Warning Signs of Disease
By Alice Cary, GORP Family Expert
Inspect your youngest ones from
toe to head, especially their hair
A few other tick-fighting tips:
 | Long-sleeve shirts and long pants can help shield your family, but ticks can crawl all over clothes in search of skin. You may want to consider applying insect repellents to your kids' clothing. |
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| Light-colored clothing is a huge help in the detection department, making ticks much easier to spot. On the evening of our tick-ridden stroll, I was dressed in dark pants and a sweater, making detection virtually impossible. We shone a spotlight on my clothes and found quite a few. |
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| Don't assume that babies and infants riding high in child carriers are safe. Although ticks don't fly or jump, they're expert crawlers and can fall off leaves and branches. After a recent outing I found a tick inside my one-year-old's shoe. |
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| Teach older kids to inspect themselves. Get young kids naked at the end of the day. Inspect them from toe to head, especially their hair, a favorite hiding place. Check all those nooks and crannies favored by ticks, where skin is thin and blood flows close to the surface. |
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| Keep an eagle eye in your home or tent. Ticks ride in on people and pets, then drop off and go on a drinking binge. Lately I've found ticks crawling inside our house, ready to cause trouble. Flush the varmints; they're tough to crush. |
Warning Signs of Disease
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Tick-borne diseases can be tricky to diagnose. They often mimic other diseases, and frequently the victim doesn't realize he or she's been bitten. As with most problems, early and proper diagnosis is key.
Lyme disease has been reported in 48 states, although it's most common in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and northern California. Twenty-five percent of the known cases have been in children under 11 years old. The telltale signs are:
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| Often, but not always, a bull's-eye-shaped rash appears at the bite site about seven days after exposure. The rash may burn or itch, and can feel warm to the touch.
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| Other symptoms can include fever, lack of energy, and enlarged lymph nodes. Later symptoms include fever, constant fatigue, and muscle and joint aches.
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If you suspect there's any chance you or your child may have Lyme disease, be sure to mention your fears to your doctor.
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