Public Health - March 2013

Tick bite awareness week 24-30th March

What are ticks?

• Small blood sucking arthropods, related to spiders, mites and scorpions. They do not fly or jump.

• In Britain, there are about 20 species of tick, each preferring to feed on the blood of different animal hosts. There are over 800 worldwide.

• If given the opportunity, some will feed on human blood too. • There are 4 stages the life cycle of the tick:

– Egg, larva, nymph and adult.

Life cycle of the tick

What do they look like?

An engorged adult, having fed on a host.

Adult down to nymph, measured in centimetres. A typical female is 2.5mm in length.

Where do you find them?

• Ticks are more common from April to October. However, bites can occur all the year round.

• They are more prevalent in rural areas, such as forests, woods and grassland, but can also be active in urban parklands and gardens.

• Ticks like warm areas on the body, such as the groin, armpits and scalp. The back of the knee, waist and buttocks are also favourite spots.

Can they affect your health?(1)

• Ticks can carry and transmit diseases.• Lyme disease ( also known as Lyme borreliosis or Borreliosis) is

one such disease.• Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the

UK.• Lyme disease can affect the nervous system, joints and heart

for example, and can produce a range of symptoms.

Can they affect your health?(2)

• Incubation period from infection to onset of symptoms can vary from a few days to a few weeks.

• An expanding rash is often the first sign of infection.

Other symptoms:

• Flu-like symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes, headache, tiredness and muscle aches.

• Left untreated,, symptoms of the initial illness may go away on their own. In some people, the infection can spread to other parts of the body.

How common is Lyme disease?

Reported cases of infection during 2011 in comparison with some other areas

Region Acquired in UK Acquired abroad Total

Wales 5 4 9

London 45 43 88

South East 336 70 406

South West 242 23 265

England and Wales

762 197 959

Source: Health Protection Agency

How can ticks be avoided?(1) Whether you are just walking the dog or going on holiday, be prepared:

o Invest in some tweezers, that can be obtained from your local

vet, chain pet stores or on the internet;

oUse repellent

How can ticks be avoided? (2)

• When out walking, wear suitable clothing: use gaiters, or tuck long trousers into socks and choose clothes with elstic or drawstrings at the waist, wrist and ankle to help deter ticks from crawling under clothes.

• Clothing made from smooth or waxed material make it harder for ticks to attach themselves or climb.

• Wearing light coloured clothing and using light coloured picnic rugs makes it easier to see them.

• Walk in the middle of paths, avoiding overhanging plants at the edge of the paths where ticks will lurk.

How can ticks be avoided?(3)

• Deter ticks from gardens. Ticks like humid environments and tend to avoid sunny, dry areas.– Keep leaf litter to a minimum;– Keep grass short and cut back over hanging vegetation on

the edge of paths;– Divide lawns from shrub areas with wood chips or gravel.– Keep seating and play areas away from borders, trees and

bird feeders.– Use fencing to divide gardens from deer habitat.

Useful addresses and websites (1)

• Lyme Disease Action,• PO Box 235,• Penryn• TR10 8WZ

Useful addresses and websites(2)

• http://www.lymediseaseaction.org.uk

• http://wwwnhs.uk/Conditions/Lyme -disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

• Treatment:• http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/LymeDisease/Gui

delines/