Virginia Tech emergency medicine physician provides tips to reduce tick bite risk

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- As Virginians head outdoors during warmer weather, an emergency medicine physician with Virginia Tech is spreading awareness about tick bite prevention and treatment.

In Virginia, common ticks -- like the blacklegged or deer tick, the lone star tick and the American dog tick -- carry diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, among other possible dangers.

Emergency medicine physician Stephanie Lareau shared the following tips for Virginians to take before going outdoors:

• “Apply repellents containing DEET (10-30%), picaridin (20%) or other EPA-approved active ingredients to exposed skin. Be sure to follow product instructions.”
• “Treat clothing and gear such as tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.”
• “Light-colored clothing makes ticks easier to spot. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants tucked into socks.”
• “Avoid wooded, brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter where ticks thrive. Walk in the center of trails to avoid touching vegetation.”

After hiking, cycling, trail-running or other outdoor activities, Lareau said to take the following steps:

• “After returning indoors, check your entire body for ticks. Inspect children carefully, especially in their hair, underarms and groin.”
• “Inspect gear and pets to stop ticks from hitchhiking indoors.”
• “Shower as soon as you can — this also creates a good opportunity for a tick check.”
•  “Tumble dry clothes on high heat for at least 10 minutes to kill any ticks before washing. If you wash first, use hot water setting.”

In addition, Lareau said homeowners should keep grass mowed and remove leaf litter where ticks live, and pet owners should talk to their veterinarian about tick control products for their pets.

If you find a tick, Lareau said to remove it immediately, as removing a tick within 36 hours can lessen the risk of Lyme disease transmission. You should use fine-tipped tweezers or a product like a Tick Key and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward without twisting.

Then, Lareau said you should clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol, soap and water or an iodine scrub.

The following are signs of tick-borne illnesses to look out for, Lareau said:

• “Generally, symptoms include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain or a rash.”
• “The key symptom of Lyme disease is a bullseye rash that expands outward from the bite and over several days can reach up to 12 inches across.”
• “Rocky Mountain spotted fever involves a rash that begins two to five days after the fever begins, with small pink spots spreading from wrists, forearms, and ankles to the trunk.”
• “Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you experience these or other concerning symptoms. Early diagnosis is critical.”

For additional information about tick identification and more, visit the Virginia Department of Health's website.