Tick Bites

Everything You Wanted to Know about Ticks but were
Afraid to Ask
By Joeseph Gagliardi, Health Services Committee

There are at least 8 different tick-borne diseases. The most common diseases here in Maryland are Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Anaplasmosis. However, a tick-borne disease, Babesiosis, is quickly becoming more prevalent in Maryland.

The purpose of this paper is to assist you in the prevention of any tick-borne disease.

Prevention:
1. Protective clothing – limit exposed skin for ticks to bite
Long-sleeved shirts tucked into pants
Pants tucked into socks.
2. Tick Repellents
are effective in reducing the risk of tickborne diseases.
Repellents containing DEET, Picardin, and IR3535 provide effective protection against ticks.
DEET is safe in the second and third trimester of pregnancy and for children older than two months of age.4,19 IR3535 is the most effective agent against I. scapularis.59
Permethrin can be sprayed on clothing to also repel ticks.
3. Inspect your body for ticks after being outdoors.

Pet Protection – CDC recommends:
Dogs are very susceptible to tick bites and tickborne diseases. Vaccines are not available for most of the tickborne diseases that dogs can get. They also don’t keep dogs from bringing ticks into your home. For these reasons, it’s important to use a tick preventive product on your dog.
Do not apply any tick product to your cat without first consulting your veterinarian.

Talk to your veterinarian about:
• The best tick prevention products for your dog
• Tickborne diseases in your area
To further reduce the chances that a tick bite will make you or your dog sick:
• Check your pets for ticks daily, especially after they spend time outdoors.
• If you find a tick on your pet, remove it immediately.
• Reduce tick habitat in your yard.

Removing a tick:
• Ticks are best removed as soon as possible. the risk of disease transmission increases significantly after 24 hours of attachment.
• The use of a blunt, medium-tipped, angled forceps offers the best results. DO NOT TWIST THE TICK OFF. This may allow its body fluids to enter the wound.
• Following tick removal, the bite area should be inspected carefully for any retained mouthparts, which should be excised.
• The area is then cleaned with antiseptic solution. monitor for signs of local or systemic illness.
• Please leave a message for your PCP that you removed a tick and the location of it. In this way if you develop unusual symptoms later, tick borne illnesses can be considered in the
workup.

Ineffective or Dangerous Methods of Removing Ticks:
(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Do not use sharp forceps.
Do not crush, puncture, or squeeze the tick’s body.
Do not apply substances such as petroleum jelly, gasoline, lidocaine (Xylocaine), etc., to the tick.
Do not apply heat with a match or hot nail.

Submitted by Marty White, Co-Chair, Residents’ Council Health Services Committee, July 9, 2025