your body for ticks after returning from an iodine scrub (if not allergic), or soap tick-infested areas. Promptly remove and water. attached ticks. LYME • The Department of State Health • Use an approved repellent. Repellents Services offers tick-testing services containing permethrin can be applied for Lyme disease and other tick-borne DISEASE to shoes and clothing and will last for diseases. To obtain detailed instructions several days. Repellents containing for collecting and submitting a tick for DEET can be applied to skin. Be sure to testing, refer to http://www.dshs.state. follow the directions on the product label tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/tickBites/. before applying repellent.
• Keep your pets free of ticks. This will help prevent pets from bringing ticks into your house. Consult with a veterinarian about the various safe, effective tick control and repellent products available for pets.
How do you remove an attached tick?
• Use tweezers to grasp the tick at the surface of the skin. If tweezers are not available, use a tissue or paper towel Brown dog tick to protect your fingers. Remember, exposure to the tickʼs body fluids may lead to infection.
• With a steady motion, pull the tick straight out. Do not twist or jerk the tick as this may cause the mouthparts to remain in the skin. Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control • After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, 12/12 Stock No. 7-35 nervous system, and heart. About 60% What is Lyme disease? What are the symptoms and of patients will develop pain and swelling signs of Lyme disease? in one or more large joints, especially the Lyme disease is an illness that may knees, ankles, and wrist. Some Lyme involve skin, joint, heart, and nervous Early Lyme disease: It takes about 7 disease victims may develop neurological system problems. Lyme disease can to 14 days for symptoms to develop after signs and symptoms such as paralysis affect people of all ages. It is the most infection. These symptoms may include of the face, numbness of arms and legs, frequently diagnosed tick-borne disease chills, fever, headache, muscle and severe headache, stiff neck, difficulty in Texas and in the United States. joint pains, and swollen lymph nodes. concentrating, and fatigue. Rarely, a Along with these “flu-like” symptoms, an rapid or irregular heartbeat may occur. What causes Lyme disease? unusual skin rash develops in less than half of Lyme disease cases in Texas. How is Lyme disease This rash, called erythema migrans, Lyme disease is caused by a corkscrew- begins as a small red circular area at the diagnosed? shaped bacterium called a spirochete. site of the infected tick bite usually within It is transmitted by the bite of an 3 days to 1 month. The center of the It is important to notify a physician if you infected tick. In the north-central and rash may become lighter as it expands, become ill after being bitten by a tick. northeastern United States, the black- resulting in a “bullʼs-eye” appearance. Contact a physician if signs of illness, legged tick transmits Lyme disease The circular rash may enlarge to about 4 such as a rash or fever in the days or bacteria to humans. In Texas, this type of to 6 inches in diameter and may be warm weeks following a tick bite, develop. Your tick seldom bites people. The ticks most to the touch; it is usually painless. The risk of acquiring Lyme disease depends likely to attach to people and transmit Lyme disease rash may last for more on many factors, including where you Lyme disease in Texas are the lone star than a month. live, what type of tick bit you, and how tick and the brown dog tick. long the tick was attached. A diagnosis Not all rashes that occur after a tick bite of Lyme disease will be based on clinical are due to Lyme disease. Tick saliva can signs and symptoms and the results of cause an allergic reaction that may be laboratory blood tests. confused with the rash of Lyme disease. Allergic reactions to tick bites usually How can you protect appear within a few hours or days after tick attachment, usually do not expand, yourself? and often disappear within a few days. • Take protective measures when engaging in outdoor activities. Wear Late Lyme disease: Some signs and light-colored clothing so that ticks can be symptoms of Lyme disease may not easily seen. Tuck pant legs into boots appear until weeks, months, or years or socks. Walk in the center of trails after a tick bite. Late manifestations of to avoid contact with high grass and Lone star tick Lyme disease usually involve the joints, brush at trail edges. Inspect all parts of