Tick bites!

[aeshna]

Originally Posted by Turtletagger

The worst places to find them are attached to your private parts

Yeah, although I don't speak from personal experience a friend had one on his two veg, so to speak. I told him to try the lighted match technique for removal.




apologises if anyone is traumatised by this news, he was. LOL


cheers

aeshna

[nightshade]

Traumatised! I just sprayed the room with my G and T LOL

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Traumatised! I just sprayed the room with my G and T LOL

i bet that didnt do your computer any good hope youre all backed up this time

[celiar]

Hi all,

Having read most of this thread there does seem to be a lot of mis-information and lack of information about ticks and the diseases they carry, how to remove them SAFELY, just what the risk of infection IS if you are bitten by a tick and what treatment may be required. I hate to say it but a lot of the advice given out on how to remove ticks is quite scarey to say the least and the risk of infection minimised!

In order to dispel all the myths could I please direct you to a site that contains all the relevant up to date information on this subject. It's run by a UK based charity that was set up with just this purpose in mind. The subject is a serious one, and one which is growing rapidly in the UK.

http://www.bada-uk.org/home.html

This is from the Home Page:

>>BADA-UK is a registered charity formed by a group of people from different backgrounds brought together by the effects of Borreliosis / Lyme disease and other associated infections. Amongst our number are scientists, medics, teachers and other professionals who have agreed to use their skills to try to help address the increasing problem of ticks and tick-borne disease in the United Kingdom.<<

The site covers the whole subject accurately and in depth. There are also free downloadable information leaflets that have been produced with 'outdoor pursuits' in mind, plus ones for dog/cat and horse owners.

Celiar

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by celiar

Hi all,
In order to dispel all the myths could I please direct you to a site that contains all the relevant up to date information on this subject. It's run by a UK based charity that was set up with just this purpose in mind. The subject is a serious one, and one which is growing rapidly in the UK.

http://www.bada-uk.org/home.html

The leaflet does seem good.

It is I think ultra cautious and back covering e.g.

1. Wearing gloves for removing ticks - probably is the counsel of perfection, but risk of infection via intact skin must be remote - but not proven to be nil I suspect.

2. Keeps saying go to your GP.
Waste of time in absence of signs of skin rash, symptoms of Lyme disease, or local infection with redness and pus (in UK in 06) as I have said before, as current advice is not to treat on basis of bite alone.

3. "Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE) has emerged as an important
human health concern since 1990 .......... Ehrlichiosis can also be fatal."
"Babesiosis is another common infection transmitted by a tick bite"
Errrr ................ whilst it may be important if you get it, as a GP I have never heard of these in UK, so a bit over stated methinks, and thus a bit alarmist. If it was an important human health concern it would be subject to information from the chief medical officer and a common topic in the medical weekly papers.

[celiar]

Hi Hobjob,

I have Lyme disease and co-infections as a result of a tick bite in the UK and so I believe that fore-warned is fore-armed. If I can prevent only one person from falling victim to the illness ticks can transmit then my comments will have been worth it. I certainly don't want to be alarmist. Not all tick bites carry infection but I believe that if we treated ALL ticks as potential infection carriers and developed a healthy respect for the diseases they can transmit then we would be doing ourselves a favour.

1. Wearing gloves for removing ticks - probably is the counsel of perfection, but risk of infection via intact skin must be remote - but not proven to be nil I suspect.

The recommendation of wearing gloves for tick removal is due to the fact that infection can enter through a small break in the skin, on a finger say, or in the case of intact skin can still be transmitted via mucous membranes (for instance if you removed a tick with your finger and then stuck the same finger up your nose....lol).

2. Keeps saying go to your GP.
Waste of time in absence of signs of skin rash, symptoms of Lyme disease, or local infection with redness and pus (in UK in 06) as I have said before, as current advice is not to treat on basis of bite alone.

3. "Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis (HGE) has emerged as an important
human health concern since 1990 .......... Ehrlichiosis can also be fatal."
"Babesiosis is another common infection transmitted by a tick bite"
Errrr ................ whilst it may be important if you get it, as a GP I have never heard of these in UK, so a bit over stated methinks, and thus a bit alarmist. If it was an important human health concern it would be subject to information from the chief medical officer and a common topic in the medical weekly papers.

The BADA site's message is that the best defense is knowledge, and they are merely covering all eventualities. I'm sure they do not wish to be alarmist either, and the main aim of the site focuses on prevention.

I just feel that it's far better to know your enemy.

[lynne108]

Originally Posted by littlelb

Does anyone know if ticks are prevelant in the Snowdonia area of Wales?

My husband's doctor thinks he may have Lymes disease and we were on holiday there a couple of weeks ago. If you do have any flu like symtons or a ring like rash after a tick bite ad if value your sanity(or that of your partner may I add), go to the docs to get it checked. My husband is a fit 35year old and I have never seen anyone look so bad.

I am very sorry to hear about your husband - I should imagine that anywhere where deer hang out ticks are likely to be.
Hope he gets better soon.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by celiar

I have Lyme disease and co-infections as a result of a tick bite in the UK and so I believe that fore-warned is fore-armed.

sorry to hear that celiar - i hope that treatment is effective and you get better soon. I certainly endorse your position that knowledge is power - especially if you are dealing with doctors who practice in areas where lymes disease is not that common.

In my case i had to threaten one practice with lawsuit if i got ill in order to force the doctor to give me antibiotics, even though i had the rash and flu like symptoms.

I'm not saying for a moment that most doctors dont take it seriously, my current practice is excellent. but it is wise for everyone who is at risk to know what they are talking about.

[celiar]

Originally Posted by littlelb

Does anyone know if ticks are prevelant in the Snowdonia area of Wales?

My husband's doctor thinks he may have Lymes disease and we were on holiday there a couple of weeks ago. If you do have any flu like symtons or a ring like rash after a tick bite ad if value your sanity(or that of your partner may I add), go to the docs to get it checked. My husband is a fit 35year old and I have never seen anyone look so bad.

Where ticks can be found.

In well planted gardens, shrubberies, grassy edges, paddocks and hedgerows. In wooded areas, grasslands, meadows, even in buildings that support a large population of roosting birds or vermin for example, and of course on all manner of family pets, ticks will be found. According to the Public Health Agency (now called the Health Protection Agency), England, 80% of laboratory confirmed incidences of Lyme disease from 1997 to 2003 were acquired within the UK, with cases being reported from most counties in England and Wales.

http://www.bada-uk.org/facts.html

[celiar]

Originally Posted by eeyore

sorry to hear that celiar - i hope that treatment is effective and you get better soon.

Many thanks eeyore.