Content

• Steps

Lyme disease ticks are found in Asia, the United States, Northwest Europe, Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 300,000 Lyme disease cases occur in the United States each year. According to the CDC, the number of "high risk" areas in the US has increased significantly. Lyme disease is caused by a type of bacteria borrelia burgdorfer Usually found in deer and mouse-induced rats. The disease is transmitted to humans through the bites of deer ticks, also known as black-legged mites, after having sucked the blood of these animals. Lyme disease is not contagious, but can cause serious complications if left untreated. By knowing how to avoid ticks and understanding early treatment with the right drugs and antibiotics, you will be able to keep your children away from the ticks or recover faster if infected.

Steps

Part 1 of 5: Ticks prevention

1. 

   
   
   Avoid areas where ticks live. Ticks are very small and not easy to see. Juvenile mites (nymphs) are as small as poppy seeds, and adult mites are only about the size of sesame seeds. Because the ticks are small in size, it is almost impossible to see them until they crawl onto the skin. To avoid contact with ticks, avoid the areas where they live. Ticks are found in the same environment, anywhere on earth. They love wet, shaded forests with lots of scrub and trees with lots of leaves. Rotten leaves, tall grass, piles of wood and stone walls provide a safe and discreet environment for ticks to live.
   • Ticks will wait in those places until they have had a chance to come into contact with animals or humans.
   • Ticks do not just live in forests. They can lurk in many areas of your backyard, especially tall grass, bushes, vines or shady areas.

2. 

   
   
   Learn about tick's peak seasons. It is very important to know about the tick's peak season, and when they multiply. The time the tick spreads is usually in spring and summer (from May to September in the northern hemisphere). Information about this will help you be prepared to cope.
   • For example, if you plan to go camping or partying during tick season, you can take extra precautions to avoid being stung by a tick.

3. 

   
   
   Dress your child appropriately. When you leave your home and know that mites are likely to live in the upcoming areas, you and your child should wear long pants when going in overgrown areas. If possible, put the hem of your pants in your socks. Most ticks attach to the lower leg area.
   • You and your child should also wear long sleeves, gloves and hats.
   • This dress is to make sure the entire body is covered and the tick has no way of reaching the skin. REMINDING, putting the bottom of the pants in the socks will help prevent the tick from crawling onto the child's legs.
   • Wear light-colored clothing. It is easier to spot ticks if they crawl onto light-colored clothing.

4. 

   Apply an insect repellent. Children should apply insect repellent while in an area where they may be infected. Insect repellent should contain at least 20% DEET, an active ingredient that will repel ticks and other insects. Apply insect repellent to your child's skin, taking care to avoid eyes, mouth and hands. Reapply every 2-5 hours, depending on the product.
   • Avoid swallowing insect repellent BECAUSE it contains toxic chemicals. Be sure to use it carefully according to the directions on the vial label.
   • Products containing permethrin can be used on clothes. You can also buy clothes soaked with permethrin.Permethrin is an insect repellant that can be found in pharmacies. The drug works to kill ticks and insects on contact. This chemical can only be used on clothing and not on the skin. Use with caution as directed on the label. If in doubt, consult your doctor for instructions on the correct use.
   • If you prefer to repel insects with more natural remedies, you can use lemon eucalyptus oil (OLE), an insect repellent extracted from the eucalyptus tree. OLE has a characteristic odor and is also effective against ticks similar to products containing low levels of DEET (10%). This natural product also repels mosquitoes and other insects. You can find it in pharmacies.
   • Other essential oils such as lemongrass, cedar, soybean or eucalyptus have not been shown to be highly effective against mites.

5. 

   Advise children on the right path. To prevent Lyme disease, you need to avoid being stung by a tick. Encourage your child to stay on the right track and avoid stepping into areas with bushes or tall grass, BECAUSE ticks often multiply in these areas.

6. 

   Keep your yard tidy. Clean your yard to get rid of ticks. Clean your backyard at least once a year to keep ticks away. The job involves clearing the leaves and bushes, because REMINDING again are these environment-loving ticks. Trim the grass short and tidy, remove fallen, dead and rotting leaves, and piles of wood high above the ground so that ticks cannot settle inside.
   • If you live near a forest, add a barrier about one meter wide with mulch, gravel or shavings separating your lawn and the surrounding forest to prevent ticks from entering.
   • You can buy special home remedies for tick control to keep them away. Bifen IT, Onslaught, and Permethrin Pro are chemicals that treat ticks and other insects in your yard. Be sure to use these products according to the specific instructions on the packaging, as they are harsh chemicals and can harm you, your family and your pets if not used correctly.
   • A pesticide called acaricides can keep ticks away from your yard. You need to hire a licensed professional to spray the pesticides around the area twice a year. This is a job that you should not do yourself.

7. 

   Do not let the deer come near the house. Deer are the primary food source of adult ticks. If you don't let the deer get close, your chances of getting Lyme disease will also decrease because the deer ticks don't have a chance to hang around in your yard. You can do this by removing any plants that attract deer (clover and beans).
   • You can also make a deer fence.
   advertisement

Part 2 of 5: Check for ticks on the child's body

1. 

   Check now. When your child comes home from activities that may be exposed to ticks, get checked out as soon as possible. Do a full body scan for any ticks that may be on your child's skin. Be sure to carefully observe the areas where the tick usually resides, such as under the armpits, in the ears, in the navel, at the knees, between the legs, in the hair, and around the waist.
   • You can use a hand mirror to see areas of the skin that are hard to see.

2. 

   Take a shower as soon as possible. You should instruct your child to take a bath immediately after your baby gets home and you have checked. Ticks usually stay on the skin for a while before they get stronger. Showering can get rid of the ticks before they get on to your skin and sting them, so you can prevent the spread of Lyme disease.
   • Ticks can also latch on to pets, so if you walk your dog through high grass or bushes, bathe your dog with soap and warm water as soon as you get home.
   • In general, deer ticks will not live for more than 24 hours without bloodsucking, although ticks that live in damp clothing can survive for up to two or three days.

3. 

   Clothes jerking. After going for a walk or camping trip, wash the whole family's clothes to remove any ticks if any. Remember to wash with hot water and detergent.
   • This is to make sure the tick falls off the clothes and dies during the washing process.

4. 

   Check it again to make sure there are no ticks left. Even if you take the necessary precautions, tiny ticks can still escape on the first examination. Ticks can start to attach to the skin if they stay on the skin for a long enough time without being rinsed off in the shower. Ticks are easy to miss, so it's best to get them checked again. advertisement

Part 3 of 5: Eliminating ticks

1. 

   Understand increased risk. The likelihood of getting Lyme disease by the ticks increases with the time they stay on the child's skin. Any ticks that attach to the skin should be eliminated as soon as possible. The likelihood of Lyme infection is significantly reduced if the tick is eliminated within 24 hours of the skin attachment.

2. 

   Disinfect the skin around the tick. Use alcohol to disinfect areas where the tick is attached.
   • You should also use alcohol tweezers to disinfect.

3. 

   Use small tweezers to catch the tick. Using clean tweezers, gently lift the tick, as close to the skin as possible. This is to ensure the removal of both the head and the mouth of the tick. Pull the tick up with steady and careful movements. Do not twist or yank. The rapid pulling action can tear the skin and leave the mouth of the tick on the skin.
   • Do not crush or force the tick to prevent the poison from the tummy from entering the child's bloodstream.
   • Do not use a burning match or petroleum jelly to remove a tick or attempt to kill it. These methods will only cause the tick to dig deeper into the skin and produce saliva, and this increases the risk of Lyme disease. These are not effective methods of getting rid of ticks.
   • Don't worry if you notice some tick fragments still on your skin after you've removed them. The tick cannot survive with just one part of the body and the rest will eventually come apart as a piece of debris.

4. 

   Keep the tick. Instead of throwing it away, keep the tick in a sealed container. You need to show it to your doctor to see if the tick is carrying Lyme disease.
   • This is useful but also optional, so don't worry if you don't keep the tick. It is not as important as caring for your baby when he or she has a tick bite. If you have to destroy the tick to get rid of the tick, you need to do it. Getting rid of ticks is a top priority.

5. 

   Wash the area where the tick stings. To get rid of the remaining toxins released by the ticks, you need to clean the child's skin. It is best to use disinfectants or other antiseptic cleaning agents. Dip a cotton ball or gauze in the antiseptic and gently wipe the affected area.
   • If the area of ​​the affected area is irritated, apply an antibacterial ointment like Neosporin to make sure there is no infection.
   • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after cleaning affected skin for children.

6. 

   Take your child to the doctor. If your child is stung by a tick, you should take him or her to the doctor. If infected, confirming Lyme disease will help the child get treatment as soon as possible.
   • Even if you can't keep the tick, the doctor will still be able to diagnose your baby.
   advertisement

Part 4 of 5: Recognizing the symptoms of Lyme disease

1. 

   Know the time frame. Symptoms of Lyme disease will occur over a certain time frame. When your baby is stung by a carrier deer tick, Lyme disease symptoms will usually appear for a period of 3 days to a month. The first signs of Lyme disease usually manifest in about 3-30 days at the site of the wound.
   • After the child has been stung by a tick, you need to keep an eye on the skin around the original sting for 3-30 days for warning signs.

2. 

   Watch for a rash near the wound. The first symptom that can occur is a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans. A moving erythematous rash appears as round and oval red spots at the site of the bite. The rash tends to spread more and more, making the red spot look like a bull's eye because it looks like a pink-red circle around a white area, in the middle there is another red circle.
   • This characteristic rash appears on the sting in the early part of the illness, usually after about a week. However, as the infection spreads slowly in the bloodstream, a rash can appear in different parts of the body.

3. 

   Watch the area for the tick bite. In addition to a rash, the skin around the bites may begin to hurt or itch. Moving erythema occurs in about 70-80% of cases of Lyme disease. The rash may feel warm, but pain, burning, or itching can also occur, although more rarely.
   • In some more severe cases, the rash does not appear. This is dangerous because the infection is circulating in the blood without obvious signs. This severe case affects other vital organs without the victim's recognition.
   • Lyme disease can also affect the joints, heart, and nervous system.
   • If you notice a moving rash, you need to take your child to the doctor promptly.

4. 

   Watch for flu-like symptoms. In addition to migratory erythema in the early stages of Lyme disease, other symptoms include headache, fever, fatigue, swollen glands, and chills.
   • If you notice a moving rash with flu-like symptoms, you should immediately take your child to a doctor for treatment.

5. 

   Watch for changes in children's behavior. If your child is stung by a tick, you need to carefully monitor his behavior. Children may not be able to accurately describe their feelings, so watch for warning signs. Concerned manifestations of behavior include:
   • lack of focus
   • trouble sleeping at night
   • cannot focus on learning
   • dizziness or a feeling of confusion
   • athritis
   • the fevers recur many times
   • Increased sensitivity to light and noise

6. 

   Watch for symptoms at a later stage. There are some symptoms of Lyme disease that appear only in the later stages of the disease. When Lyme disease moves into a later stage, the bacteria spread to other places in the body and can lead to serious problems in vital organs. This stage can cause serious problems for the heart, joints and nervous system.
   • Affected joints may develop arthritis, with inflammation accompanied by stiffness, pain, swelling and narrowing of range of motion.
   • If the heart is affected, the child can develop myocarditis.
   • If the nervous system is affected, the child may develop neuralgia, with manifestations of fatigue, muscle weakness, a feeling of needles and burning in the peripheral nerves.
   • If left untreated, Lyme disease can lead to life-threatening conditions such as heart failure or meningitis.
   advertisement

Part 5 of 5: Compliance with the treatment regimen

1. 

   Know the basic principles of the treatment regimen. Treatment for Lyme disease involves killing the bacteria that cause the infection, controlling any symptoms that appear, and trying to prevent complications or the spread of bacteria to protect vital organs. Treatment begins with the use of the appropriate antibiotic. Only a doctor can prescribe an antibiotic and decide whether to take it.
   • Your doctor may prescribe additional medications to control symptoms.

2. 

   Take your child to the doctor. When you notice the symptoms of your child's Lyme disease, you should take your baby to the doctor right away. Your pediatrician will prescribe antibiotics to fight and kill the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. The doctor will also decide the best antibiotic based on the age of the patient and the condition of the disease.
   • In children, oral antibiotics are usually sufficient to stop the spread and control the characteristic rash. Doctors often prescribe antibiotics for a week or two of initial treatment, and have proven to be effective enough to treat rashes in most cases. Usually, the doctor will let the child continue taking antibiotics for another week to completely eliminate Lyme disease.
   • The antibiotics chosen are often broad spectrum such as Augmentin containing amoxicillin and clavulanic acid with many different uses suitable for many different ages. You can also give oral suspensions to your child, suitable for children four years of age and older.

3. 

   Get an injection of antibiotics. If your child shows signs of late-stage Lyme disease, injectable antibiotics are often used for a faster response. The form of direct injection has a rapidly absorbed effect, helping the drug to start working and treating the disease faster, and at the same time preventing or treating complications such as arthritis.
   • Injectable drugs such as ceftriaxone (ceftriaxone) can be given to children with a concentration of 0.5 mg. These drugs can be injected directly into a muscle or a vein, one dose per day.
   • Your child will be monitored for a while by the doctor to see if the antibiotics are effective in treating the disease. In case the child does not respond to the drug, the doctor will change the antibiotic.

4. 

   Give your child a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are often prescribed by doctors for their analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. They also help reduce fever, relieve pain, reduce inflammation and control the rash when it appears. It also helps to reduce swelling and a warm feeling on the damaged skin.
   • This drug is often prescribed by a doctor when there are complications of arthritis in a child with Lyme disease.
   • Carefully read the directions for the use of over-the-counter medicines and take note of any special dosage instructions for children. If you are unsure, ask your doctor.
   • You can buy NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Children's Advil's, Children's Motrin's), catafast or cataflam (Diclophenac Potassium), as a syrup, anal suppository, or powder. The doctor will prescribe drugs suitable for the child's age.
   • Do not give aspirin to children under 18, as aspirin has been linked to the development of Reye's syndrome, a rare but dangerous condition that causes swelling in the liver and brain.

5. 

   Apply an anti-itch solution to relieve your child's itch. Although Lyme disease is not treated, anti-itch creams or gels can be applied directly to the rash to prevent scratching. These medications help relieve itching or burning sensation in the skin. The calming effect can help to make the entire skin more comfortable, controlling the uncomfortable itch.
   • Check with your doctor before applying any cream to your child's skin.
   • You still have to take antibiotics to treat Lyme disease. Antipruritic ointments only help relieve symptoms.
   advertisement