Don’t Forget The Tick Check
If you’re in tick country (Tracker Jim is located in southeastern MA, a tick haven) heed the advice to check yourself for ticks and tick nymphs when returning from geocaching and other outdoor activities that might expose you.
An article in the New Bedford Standard Times warns:
To feed, ticks sink their mouths into the skin and hold on for several days to take a blood meal. Removing them before they feed, generally within 24-36 hours, can avert disease.
That’s why checking clothing and skin for ticks is so important, said Dr. Bela Matyas, medical director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health epidemiology program.
“You’re usually able to remove them before they have a chance to transmit the infection,” he said.
Prevention is definitely the best course of action, as Lyme disease is poorly understood, and further clouded by much disagreement among doctors.
More than 100 possible symptoms are mentioned in literature distributed by the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Massachusetts, earning Lyme disease a reputation as a mysterious imitator of other conditions.
Some physicians are reluctant to diagnose Lyme disease without a positive test, especially if the patient never developed the classic “bulls-eye” rash. But many confirmed cases never develop a rash.
While geocachers ought to be careful to check for ticks, they are not alone in being at risk. You can encounter deer ticks in your own yard, and other types of ticks can also spread disease.
In the case of your yard, work to keep your yard inhospitable to ticks and rodents by removing trash and trimming grass. Take care around wood piles.
In the woods, wear long pants and reduce the amount of exposed skin. Protect exposed skin with DEET-based insect spray. Wear a hat. And then, within hours of your trek, check your body for ticks and nymphs.
Whether you’re geocaching or not, if you’re a parent, check your children for ticks whenever they’ve been outside during tick season.
The page on Lyme Disease at Mount Auburn Hospital has more recommendations regarding protecting yourself from tick-borne illness.
You needn’t be scared away from the out-of-doors during tick season. The prudent cacher simply takes the necessary precautions.