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I don't know...I've grown up with them, and had too many to count. I've had many tick heads stuck in. if I'd taken antibiotics every time I'd had a tick...it would be too many times to count. I understand Lyme disease is a big thing if left untreated, but can you imagine treating all the diseases you've been exposed to but haven't shown you have contracted, or that you've only POSSIBLY been exposed to?? If someone is really concerned, they could have Antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi by immunofluorescence (IFA) checked or ELISA. ELISA tests are confirmed with a Western blot test done once a year or something to make sure they don't have asymptomatic Lyme disease. Alternatively, they could keep the tick and take that in for testing. My mother did that on a couple of ticks she had.
Yes I grew up with ticks also. My Uncle was the first person on Long Island to also die of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the 70's. And since then we carefully monitor ticks and how to best handle them.
And my 2 nephews and also my dad were diagnosed with Lyme Disease so I am well versed. Unfortunately if you have other diseases it is hard to properly test for Lyme Disease, along with the testing results not being all that accurate when there are no other health issues. I am aware of all the possibilities. But again, IMO in an area known for lyme disease etc. I feel it is very justified after the experiences my loved ones have been thru.
Yes absolutely you can keep the tick, but for those that do not have it.....brings us back to the beginning.
[quote=gidget01;667385] Here in Raleigh, I already found tiny ones on my sons and my hubby so keeping an eye open. I don't think Lymes is as much an issue here as up North but just read that Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is common in these areas. [quote]
And we also have the lone star tick here in NC including the Raleigh area.,
Anything with DEET keeps them at bay. I try not to use DEET on the kids on a regular basis, but we do use it when hiking or camping. You can also wear a hat to keep them from falling into your hair (bad because you can't find them) and high socks when walking in the woods. Some true blue hikers wear light weight long pants and long sleeves with their pants legs tucked into their socks and a hat. The do "nest" so you can possibly walk through a nest of them.
They can attach anywhere but particularly like to attach themselves to fleshy, sensitive areas, so be sure to check ...ahhemmm...all sensitive skin folds (you know what I mean), in and behind ears, scalp and hairline, groin, abdomen, behind the knees and underarms.
I had a deer tick once right above my hip (which is plenty fleshy on me :-)) and it was so darn small I could really only make out that it was a tick with a magnifying glass. I found a couple on my kids that day and decided to check myself as well. If I hadn't done that I swear I would have never known it was there.
You can nuke your yard with pesticides to help keep them out of your yard, but I would only do that if I knew for fact that I was having a problem with them and seeing them on the kids and pets.
One guy I know had a tick and then got tested for lyme disease even though the doctor said it was not necessary. It turns out, that he did have lyme disease.
I would worry about Lyme disease. NC is nortorious for ticks, when I would walk my dog, she would always have a tick. The moist bushes just passing under them, it's like they just fall on you. We were always taught to "unscrew" the tick, if it is full of blood, counter clockwise, usually the head would come out, never just pull them.
Then I burn the tick with a match or something, (maybe a blow torch). They are gross.
I just pulled a tick off my 5 year old. I was looking for the thread on ticks because I thought I read the story here about the person who took her child to the ER and they poured rubbing alcohol on the tick and it came off on its own. I can't find it now (maybe another thread?).
Anyhow, just wanted to share that I had never read about this alcohol method anywhere but we tried it tonight and it worked! We helped it along with a tweezers but the tick just about came out on its own after a few minutes of dousing it (squeezed from a paper towel). AND the head was intact and all!
Lauren
PS..this was the 2nd tick in 3 days. The boys are getting buzz cuts next week to make tick checking and removal easier.
I just pulled a tick off my 5 year old. I was looking for the thread on ticks because I thought I read the story here about the person who took her child to the ER and they poured rubbing alcohol on the tick and it came off on its own. I can't find it now (maybe another thread?).
Anyhow, just wanted to share that I had never read about this alcohol method anywhere but we tried it tonight and it worked! We helped it along with a tweezers but the tick just about came out on its own after a few minutes of dousing it (squeezed from a paper towel). AND the head was intact and all!
Lauren
PS..this was the 2nd tick in 3 days. The boys are getting buzz cuts next week to make tick checking and removal easier.
It was this thread you read it in. I bought alcohol at Target today so I am better prepared next time. That and a magnifying glass with a built in light. These little boogers are so small they are hard to see to remove!
It was this thread you read it in. I bought alcohol at Target today so I am better prepared next time. That and a magnifying glass with a built in light. These little boogers are so small they are hard to see to remove!
Hi CAKD,
THANK YOU! It was a much easier experience removing a tick today than a few days ago. I swear, I did extensive research on ticks SEVERAL times and not once did I read about the alcohol.
Just pulled a Lone Star Tick off DH. Must have landed on him today while he was out in the yard. Only thing we can figure since it was so windy, it came from a tree in the woodline. It was attached inside his hip bone so it definitely did some crawling to get there. He got info online to hold the tick with blunt nose tweezers close to its head putting enough gentle pressure to pull his skin away from his body. It released, mouth parts and all, in about 3 minutes.
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Tick Removal
