Ridgefield Health Department Lyme / Tick Borne Illness Prevention Program

The Blacklegged Tick (Popularly known as the “Deer Tick”) Adult Female USDA

Sizes of Blacklegged Ticks The nymph is about the size of a period at the end of a sentence. The adult is about the size of a capital O The engorged tick is about the size of a large raisin (Not actual size )

Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis) Photo: Scott Bauer, USDA ALDF

Engorged Blacklegged Tick

Other species of ticks  American dog tick  Reddish-brown  Silver-grey marking on back  Moves around vigorously, active  May cause Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever NC Dept. of Natural and Environmental Resources

Engorged Dog tick

Blacklegged Tick ----Dog Tick

AN ENGORGED BLACKLEGGED TICK (Notice the dark brown dot behind the mouthparts) EPA

IF YOU FIND A TICK ON YOU, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL AN ADULT – DO NOT TAKE THE TICK OUT YOURSELF!

TICK REMOVAL Adults should use fine tipped tweezers. Adults should grasp the tick by the mouthparts as close to the skin as possible. They should pull straight back with a slow, steady force. It is important to avoid crushing the tick’s body. The area should be washed and disinfected at the bite site. Record the date and location of the tick bite. Watch for early symptoms over the next 30 days!

BRING IT TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT! They will send the tick away to be tested You will be able to find out if the tick was carrying any bacteria

ONE TICK – MANY DISEASES

LYME DISEASE Lyme disease is a bacterial disease caused by a spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi CDC

Early Symptoms usually appear 2 to 30 days after the tick bite ~ Some people get an expanding red rash –BUT - not everyone gets a rash! ~ Flu-like Symptoms ~ Fever ~ Fatigue ~ Headache ~ Muscle aches ~ Joint aches

Lyme Disease Examples of rashes seen in patients diagnosed with Lyme disease

Lyme Disease Examples of rashes seen in patients diagnosed with Lyme disease* S. Luger L. Zemel J. Stratton A. McDonald *Photos provided by PfizerPfizer

Lyme Disease Late symptoms include: Nerve damage Encephalopathy (disease of the brain) Meningitis symptoms Heart abnormalities Severe joint pain or swelling National Library of Medicine

Did you wonder why there are so many ticks in our town?

ONE TICK CAN LAY 2000 TO 3000 EGGS!

If we don’t want to get sick from a tick, what should your family do ??????

BLAST Ridgefield Health Department Lyme Disease Prevention Program

B

Bathe or Shower within 2 hours after coming indoors

L

LOOK ….

What should you look for???

Adult female tick

Look for TICKS and remove with fine tipped tweezers

Look for RASHES too!!!

A

Apply repellents Some families don’t want to use repellents on their skin. Instead, they may choose to use repellents on their clothes. Some families do both!

S

Spray the edges of your yard! Some families do not want to spray their yards. If your family decides to spray your yard, it is best to hire a person that is trained to do this job safely.

T

Treat your pets Check your pets for ticks. Ask your vet what you can put on your pet to repel ticks Don’t sleep with your pet because they may have ticks on them

B

L

A

S

T

BLAST

BE A LYME FIGHTER! Everyone in the family can help each other Lyme Disease!

Work Cited American Lyme Disease Foundation, Inc Lyme Disease. Retrieved on September 21, 2004 from the World Wide Web: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Lyme Disease. Retrieved on September 29, 2004 from the World Wide Web: Connecticut Department of Health Lyme Disease in Connecticut. Retrieved on September 29, 2004 from the World Wide Web: Mylonakis, Elettherios When to Suspect and Monitor Babesiosis. Retrieved on September 8, 2004 from the World Wide Web: Stafford III, Kirby C Tick Bite Prevention. Retrieved on September 21, 2004 from the World Wide Web: Stafford III, Kirby C Tick Control. Retrieved on September 29, 2004 from the World Wide Web: Stafford III, Kirby C Ticks. Retrieved on September 29, 2004 from the World Wide Web: Stafford III, Kirby C Tick Management Handbook. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station pp. Taege, Alan Tick-Related Infections. Retrieved on September 8, 2004 from the World Wide Web: