LymeNet Flash: Anyone have directions for doing a proper tick check?

This is topic Anyone have directions for doing a proper tick check? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :

I am just looking at my kids but is there a proper way to do it?

Thanks

Melissa

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

I don't know how "proper" I am, but I start at the head

As it is more time consuming than the rest of their squirmy, little bodies. [Smile]

I check through the hair, ears, neck, arm pits, private areas, etc.

I don't think it matters where you start as long as you check everything.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :

my daughter has a loy of hair, what do you do to make sure you check it all?

Thanks
Melissa

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

My daughter has curly hair. Going through it is very hard.

I run my fingers through from forehead to back of neck several times.

Then (she hates this part) comb through with a fine tooth comb.

It hurts because of those curls.

I also wash it every other day and use my fingers to thoroughly move over her scalp.

The joys of prevention, huh? [Big Grin]

As my children are starting to get it (one 6 and one 5),

I catch them randomly doing it themselves.

My neighbor (the only one without Lyme) had a tick in his ear.

Didn't know it until his whole ear was inflamed.

He was put immediately on antibiotics and is the only one who tests negative in our area.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by METALLlC BLUE (Member # 6628) on :

I hate hate hate tick checks. That damn frontline stuff needs to come down on price so we can spray it on ourselves! Our animals get better care than us sometimes! [Smile]

Posted by Niere (Member # 14387) on :

I don't know if this is enough, but it's what I do.

First of all, we always wear hats if we are near the woods. Last summer we put up one of those wooden playsets and in our wisdom [Roll Eyes]

put it right next to the woods, thinking it would be shaded in the mornings. So now if we are on that we make sure we have hats.

When we come in shoes, socks and pants off. Shoes stay in the mudroom, socks and pants go in the dryer. Shirts get removed and I then check my kids from head to toe, making sure to check the backs of their ears. I also brush their hair and check their napes. In the winter we sometimes only do a bath every other day, but now that they are outside in warm weather it's bath and a hair wash every night. I also hope that with all the brushing/washing/drying that any ticks that might find their way to their heads are either removed or killed, especially from the heat of the hairdryer.

I admit I'm nervous about repellant. I've bought some but I worry about putting it on their bare skin. Any suggestions for effective repellant other than DEET? I thought I saw someone mention lavender oil a while back--I think I might try that as I do have some.

Posted by Tracy9 (Member # 7521) on :

I do what everyone else said, but it gets tricky with the hair, I know there is no possible way I can really spot a nymph tick in their dark colored hair.

Also gets tricky checking them thoroughly enough as they get older, so I worry about that too....

We do the same as others mentioned, we strip right down in the mudroom and all clothes go immediately in the laundry pile. Then it is straight to the shower.

We don't do this everytime we go outside, as we have sprayed all our property with Sevin, but anytime we go into the woods or even brush against trees.