Microsoft word - lyme disease prevention tips 2.12.doc
Who is at risk for Lyme disease? Cutter Backwoods, Ultrathon™, etc). Ultrathon™ time-release
Outdoor workers, gardeners, campers, hikers, people who hunt,
formulations provide extended protection. Non-DEET repellents,
fish, golf, or picnic in parks, or children on a school nature outing
include BioUD™ (www.homs.com/bioud®.html), Natrapel®
are all at risk. Children are especially vulnerable since they run
(available from online outdoor stores, e.g., www.rei.com/product/770010) and IR3535® (Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus IR3535® Expedition SPF 30 Pump Spray, etc.)
Deer bring ticks into your yard and reducing deer populations can
Plant oils are reported to be tick repellents.
help in lowering tick numbers. Birds and other animals also
transport ticks. Mice are a reservoir for a number of disease-
After returning indoors
causing microorganisms and often have many deer ticks attached
Perform a careful tick check. Deer ticks are tiny and difficult to
to them. A tick seeking a blood meal will attach to a mouse, feed,
see. If possible, have someone else inspect you. Be sure to check
and become infected. Other infections transmitted at the same time
your hairline and were cloths fit tightly. Parents should check
as Lyme disease can include Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis,
children. Shower immediately using a washcloth to remove
Bartonellaosis, Ehrlichiosis, Mycoplasmosis, and Rocky Mountain
unattached ticks. Remove attached ticks immediately using fine
spotted fever. Ticks are described as a cesspool of disease. The
pointed tweezers or tick-removal tool. Grasp tick close to the
spring and summer months are the “Prime Time for Lyme,”
skin, pull gently straight out. Do not use petroleum jelly, alcohol,
however, you can be bitten year-round. Ticks seek a blood meal
soap, lit match or cigarette as this might cause the tick to
anytime the temperature is high enough for them to be mobile,
regurgitate Lyme bacteria into you. Save tick in a plastic bag or
even with snow cover. Outdoor pets, even treated, can bring ticks
vial with a moistened cotton ball for identification and testing.
to you, your children, and into your home.
After removing the tick, call your doctor promptly and consider
requesting immediate antibiotic treatment. If the tick is infected
Personal prevention tips
early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is key to recovery.
Avoid sitting on the ground, stone walls, woodpiles or fallen logs;
Delay will allow the infection to disseminate in the body where
use an impervious ground cover, e.g., Gore-Tex®. Walk in the
center of trails. Check for ticks while in tick-infested areas. Deer
ticks like cool, moist environments, such as leaf litter, tall grass
Keep outdoor clothes in the garage or shed as ticks can migrate
around the edge of yards, wooded areas, or roadsides. Many
from clothing brought indoors and invade the home. You can also
wash and dry your clothes immediately. Some people put the
clothes in a trash bag then spray with permethrin and tie up the
Outdoor clothing
bag to kill the ticks before washing. Washing alone will not kill
Wear light-colored long pants, long sleeved shirts and closely
ticks, but a 30-minute hot cycle in a dryer will.
knitted socks. Tuck shirt into pants and tuck pants into socks. This
will prevent a tick from crawling under clothing. Wear a kerchief
Damminix® tick tubes
Small paper tubes containing permethrin-treated cotton balls.
Placed in mice habitats the cotton is used for nesting material.
Rynoskin™ underwear is made from a knitted breathable stretch
Permethrin kills ticks on mice. (Available from some home and
fabric that ticks have difficulty penetrating. It is helpful for hunters
garden stores and www.ticktubes.com/)
and anyone outdoors when the weather is cooler. Available in long
sleeved tops, long bottoms, socks, hoods, and gloves. (Available Select TCS™ Tick Control System
Small plastic boxes containing bait to attract mice and the
insecticide fipronil to kill ticks on mice.
Permethrin outdoor clothing spray (Contact www.tickboxtcs.com/ for certified installers)
Permethrin is a synthetic chemical that kills ticks. Spray boots,
socks, pants, sleeves, gloves, kerchief, and hat. Spray outdoors,
Yard spraying for tick control
and do not apply it to skin. Treated clothing can be worn when
Available from lawn care businesses and as homeowner hose-on
dry. One treatment lasts 2-6 weeks. Follow all label directions
applicators from Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Available as
carefully. (Available from Sawyer, Ultrathon™ Gear and Clothing
permethrin, bifenthrin, deltamethrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin,
Spray, Duranon, Permanone, etc. in outdoor retail stores’ or Mention of brand names does not constitute Insect Shield® outdoor clothing endorsements by LDASEPA. The information here is
Pretreated with permethrin and effective through 70 washings. Developed by the US Department of Defense. (Available from not intended to be a substitute for sound medical ExOfficio, LL Bean, Orvis, REI, etc. or insectshield.com/) advice from your physician. Repellents Distributed by:
DEET products for skin or clothing. Consider repellents with less
Lyme Disease Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Inc.
than 10% DEET for children. Apply repellents to skin carefully.
Follow label instructions and avoid getting repellent in the eyes or
mouth. Higher concentrations provide longer protection.(Available as sprays and wipes, e.g., OFF®, Deep Woods OFF®,
Carol A. Graham, MDHeather D. Lange, ARNP FAQ’s ABOUT SANCTURA 1. What is the name? 9. Does Ditropan interact with other medicines I may be taking? 2. Why is it needed? What does it do? Always keep your physician aware of your current It treats urine leakage associated with a strong or medicines. Use with caution if you are on Digoxin sudden urge to urinate & frequent
USING NIACIN AND AVOIDING SIDE EFFECTS The vitamin Niacin (B-3) given in pharmacologic amounts is a very effective medication to combat atherosclerosis and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. It has been used for decades but eclipsed in recent years by statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, etc.) which are more potent in lowering the LDL so called "bad" cholesterol. However, it i