Spring is here! Tick and Lyme disease prevention tips

Springtime temperatures and warmer, sun-filled days are synonymous with outdoor play. Kids of all ages shed their winter jackets; break out their tricycles, bicycles and more, and head outside for playtime. But outdoor activities are also synonymous with tick exposure. So how can you prepare your family for the tick season? The Boston Children’s Hospital’s Director of Infectious Disease Outpatient Practice, Dr. Catherine Lachenauer offers tips on how to avoid tick exposure and steps to take if your child gets a tick bite. “First and foremost, prevention is key,” says Lachenauer. “Avoid areas at the edge of the woods with long grasses. Also, wearing long, light-colored clothing helps keep ticks from getting on the skin and makes it easier to recognize one on your body.” Ticks and Lyme disease While wood ticks and dog ticks are common, deer ticks are most worrisome because they transmit Lyme disease, an infection that can affect a person’s skin, joints, nervous system and possibly organs. It is the leading tick-borne illness in the U.S. and occurs mostly in the Northeast, upper Midwest and Pacific coast areas. Deer ticks do exist in southern states, but Lyme disease is much less prevalent there. “Since deer ticks need 36 hours to transmit the Lyme germ, parents should check their children for ticks every day, especially in the warm months,” says Lachenauer. “Pay particular attention to parts of the body with skin folds, like armpits and necks.” What...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Ask the Expert Diseases & Conditions Kids' Safety Catherine Lachenauer Infectious Disease Outpatient Practice lyme disease Source Type: news