What to do against ticks? - briefly
Use «EPA‑approved repellents», wear long sleeves and pants, conduct thorough body checks after outdoor exposure, and if a tick is attached, grasp it close to the skin with fine‑point tweezers, pull steadily, then disinfect the bite site.
What to do against ticks? - in detail
Ticks transmit pathogens that can cause serious illness. Effective control requires a combination of personal protection, habitat modification, prompt removal, and medical follow‑up.
Protective clothing reduces exposure. Wear long sleeves, long trousers, and tuck pant legs into socks. Light‑colored garments make attached ticks easier to spot. Apply a repellent containing 20 %–30 % DEET, picaridin, or IR3535 to exposed skin and clothing. Re‑apply according to product instructions, especially after sweating or swimming.
Maintain the environment to limit tick habitats. Keep grass trimmed to a maximum height of 2–3 inches. Remove leaf litter, tall weeds, and brush from the perimeter of residential areas. Create a barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and forested zones. Treat high‑risk zones with acaricides approved for residential use, following label directions for timing and dosage.
If a tick is found attached, remove it promptly. Use fine‑tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure, avoiding crushing the body. Disinfect the bite site with an alcohol swab. Preserve the specimen in a sealed container for identification if disease symptoms develop. Monitor the bite area for 30 days; seek medical evaluation if a rash, fever, or flu‑like symptoms appear.
Medical measures include prophylactic antibiotics for certain exposures. When a tick bite occurs in an area endemic for Lyme disease and the tick has been attached for more than 36 hours, a single dose of doxycycline (200 mg) may be recommended. Consult a healthcare professional for guidance on appropriate treatment, vaccination status, and follow‑up testing.
Overall, reducing tick encounters relies on consistent personal precautions, regular habitat management, immediate removal of attached specimens, and timely medical intervention when necessary.