A Comprehensive Guide to Dealing with Ticks

Tick borne diseases
Lyme
Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Babesiosis

Rick Management Approach
Risk Assessment
Ticks are becoming more common with tick-borne diseases on the rise in all areas
40% of ticks carry Lyme in Nova Scotia. Can vary by location
Ticks must be attached for 24-hours or more to transmit the virus
Tick Myths
Ticks are arachnids (spiders) but cannot spin webs
Ticks cannot fly and do not jump. They remain on vegetation with legs extended until an animal brushes them

 
Prevention / Mitigation
Use a tick repellent that contains at least 20% DEET, 0.5%, Permethrin, or 20% IR3535 (icaridin / picaridin)
Permethrin treated clothes
Permethrin in Canada
OnGuard Pro-Perm Insect Killer 0.35%
UltraShield 0.50%
Wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants
Tuck pant legs into socks
Light colours help to see the ticks
Moving through vegetation increases risk of picking up a tick
Complete a thorough tick-check at least once a day

Response
If you find a tick attached to your body, don’t panic and pull it out
Use some type of tick-removal tool and slowly remove the tick in the opposite direction from the tick’s head
Clean the bite with antiseptic
Place the tick in a sealed, clear bag or container for identification
In Nova Scotia you can go to most drug stores for assessment and treatment by a pharmacist
Emergency treatment includes a single high-dose of Doxycycline
Do not use petroleum jelly, nail polish or a hot match as they may not work and delay the removal of the tick
 
Diagnosis of Lyme
Symptoms for Lyme disease typically appear 3 to 30 days
Bullseye or other rash does not happen with all Lyme infections
Symptoms include fever, headaches, joint and muscle pain, intense fatigue
In Nova Scotia treatment is dependent on positive signs and symptoms
Blood test known as the ELISA test requires two positive samples. It is not always accurate as the disease must be active when the sample is taken
Long term infection
Can much more difficult to diagnose
Symptoms can be transitory and move from area to area or be attributed to other causes
Long-term symptoms similar to those of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, Depression, Stress, and Anxiety. Dizziness and Lightheadedness. Memory and Concentration Problems. Pain and body aches

Recovery
Understand that you do not build immunity. You can be reinfected
Circle back to prevention and learn what you can do to prevent another infection
Look for Lyme Support Groups if you develop long term infection
 
Resources
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-healt...
https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-co...
https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq/index.html
https://www.aldf.com/myths-about-lyme...
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng95
https://www.nshealth.ca/clinics-progr...