As warm weather continues, officials in Kentucky are warning the public to be aware of ticks and the illnesses they can spread. Hannah Tiffin with the UK Extension Office says ticks are especially common in wooded areas, tall grass, and other places where they can easily latch onto people or animals.
Prevention Methods
Clothing and behavior are the first line of defense against ticks, according to Tiffin. She recommends wearing long pants, tucking pants into socks, and wearing tall boots. Treating outdoor clothing with permethrin and using an insect repellent containing DEET can also help prevent tick bites.
A tick check is essential after spending time outside, and it’s easiest to do in the shower. Focus on places like behind the ears, armpits, behind the knees, the groin, and even the belly button. If a tick is found, Tiffin advises against using internet hacks and instead recommends using fine-tipped tweezers to remove the tick by pulling straight up without twisting.
Tick bites can spread illnesses including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy, and Lyme disease, which is becoming more common in Kentucky pediatric patients. Officials recommend carrying a simple tick kit with tweezers, antiseptic, and a small container to save the tick if it needs to be identified.
Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.
