Tick question

[Grandma & Grandpa]

I pulled a deer tick nymph off my leg this morning. It had been attached less than 24 hours, it was not there when I showered yesterday morning. This is the second one this week.

Research I’ve done suggests that attachment of 24 – 36 hours is necessary before the transmittal of various germs can occur.

My procedure with an embedded deer tick is to use a very fine curved tip precision tweezers to get right down next to the skin to grab just the mouth parts of the deer tick. It is then gently pulled off. I try to avoid squeezing the body. This is followed up by application of an antibiotic ointment for a few days. Typically a small swelling that itches will occur, but I watch closely for any rash or larger irritation. Regular wood ticks are just grabbed and pulled off, followed by the ointment.

Living out in the country in Waupaca County, which is a Wisconsin hotbed for tick and Lyme activity, we deal with common wood ticks and the smaller deer ticks often. So far, with diligent checking of ourselves and careful removal, we’ve avoided any health issues.

This photo shows a baby deer tick (a nymph) inside the red circle – notice it is about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Also shown is the forceps I use for deer ticks, and a tick I.D. card, commonly available at campgrounds and state parks offices.

So we either stay in the house all spring, summer, and fall, or are careful about tick and get outside and enjoy the great outdoors!

cYa, Jim & Chris

[Author]

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