Who, What, Why: How dangerous are tick bites in the UK?

[gplhl]

any one ever seen a a tick-removal tool?

All you need is Vaseline or grease. Ticks breathe through their backside as the head is in you. Cover them in grease and they can't breathe. After a couple of minutes they let go. I have removed several this way, all received in France across several trips.

Gary
www.longbikeride.co.uk

[pjclinch]

http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html is US government advice. While I'm not the US government's biggest fan I'll believe them on this one...

[gplhl]

Fair enough. However, it's not folklore to stop them breathing. I know people who have snapped off the head leaving that embedded using tools or tweezers. They then have to go to hospital to have the head removed.

Vaseline or grease works. Wait ten minutes and they brush off gently. Most people don't notice they have a tick straight away, usually spotted when they have eaten and gotten bigger or after a shower. By that time you would already been infected with lymes if it's passing it. Another ten minutes doesn't matter. IMHO and experience.

Best advice is to do what you feel is most comfortable and happy. I'll stick with what I know works every time plus when I'm touring I always have grease.

Gary
http://www.longbikeride.co.uk

[mercalia]

teh vaseline idea is worth remembering thanks! though it seems bugs dont seem to like me

[jamesgilbert]

Most of the tick advice I've seen has clearly stated not to use anything like vaseline, nail polish etc, but to simply remove ASAP, as per the link posted above.

Vasline may well stop them breathing, but it can also cause them to regurgitate whatever's inside them before suffocating and falling off, thereby increasing the chances of an infection.

[andrew_s]

any one ever seen a a tick-removal tool?

I take the lifesystems tick tweezers, usually in the bottom of the wash bag.

[Psamathe]

any one ever seen a a tick-removal tool?

I take the lifesystems tick tweezers, usually in the bottom of the wash bag.

I prefer O'tom tick hooks http://www.otom.com/how-to-remove-a-tick. Available in loads of places in the UK (mainly pet shop places). The good thing about them is that there is no squeezing involved so lower regurgitation risk. And they work really well (used on my dogs and myself).

They come in packs of two - different sizes. Really small and light.

Ian

[Psamathe]

And I'm sure I was told/read somewhere that you have 24 hours after a tick 1st attaches to get it off before there is a danger of disease. But, I'm no medic and I cannot remember the source - so take that as a comment NOT as a fact/advice.

Ian

[pjclinch]

We use the O'tom ones, or something very like them, that we got from the vet.

My wife is (a) a keen orienteer and (b) a tick-magnet, not a good combination but it means between us we get plenty of practice getting them out. I've used tweezers but the hooks with the V-slit are much easier and more reliable IME.

With regards to timing, the sooner the better, so when you've been somewhere at risk do an inspection straight away, and a subsequent all-over one after undressing. A companion is helpful for the full-check.

Pete.

[Psamathe]

Although an old post, there seem a lot of ticks around at the moment. Spring and autumn are always worse but this year there are loads; they're everywhere.

Ian

[mercalia]

strange until I read that BBC article I didnt know about this menace. I dont seem ever to have been bit by one either

[cjs]

Last year a W-Sh. guest who had just traveled across Asia then Europe found a lot of bother with them in Germany, especially in the woods. Wild camping was the preference.. Regular checks were in order and one of the blighters was discovered attached to his personal lower appendage - if you get my drift...

If your preference is wild camping (which is mine) just take care where you might expose bare skin and things.... Just a thought....

[pjclinch]

If your preference is wild camping (which is mine) just take care where you might expose bare skin and things.... Just a thought....

Bear in mind they'll take a ride on clothes and wander round for a bit. While covering up is good practice that improves your chances rather than acts as a full preventative.

Doing a day's checking for an orienteering event in Tentsmuir Forest a couple of weeks ago my wife was fully covered aside from hands from the neck down and picked up several. She had me take out 3 from awkward to reach spots, she'd got 2 or 3 out herself. She does seem to be an extreme example, but wandering through bracken in the woods, if there happen to be deer or sheep in the area, is all it takes to get one.

Pete.

[mercalia]

what did we do as kids running around bare legged and arms. did we get them then? or do they only like adults? or are they a new thing? puzzled. makes me almost frightened to go walking in the woods.

I googled this -

http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Tick-Bites-While-Camping

any one got an old space suit?

"Don't take any chances. Do everything available to repules ticks and bugs.

In my area EVERY misquito tested carries West Nile Virus.

I have lost two friends to Lime disease and one more to Spotted Fever. Others have lost countless months to recovery if they survived.

Use Deet. take a shower in kerosene. roll in crushed garlic. fill you sleeping bag with fabric softener sheets.

Do whatever it takes!

In some parts of the south it is horrid. I once got 12 misquito bites walking 50 frrt from my house to the truck. I have also seen the ground crawling with ticks! A moving mass like maggots in rotton meat. I have brushed against leaves and removed a dozen within seconds."

god help us.

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
If there are sheep then there are ticks.
I had over 100 on my rear on the way home from wild camping, very small so must have been a nest.
I have found that insect repelant on your skin type works quite well, even when they get on they dont stay, use every three hours or so if you are sweating.
Just watch where you crouch