Watch out for ticks!

Hi neighbors. With hunting seasons approaching, lots of hunters are teaching their children about gun use for the first time. When we talk about safety in the woods, don't forget to warn them of the tiny killers many forget about.

I'm talking about ticks and Lyme's disease. Often a forgotten problem, it seems to be getting a new start and spreading from just the deer tick to at least three other varieties of ticks! Lyme's disease bearing ticks have been found on chipmunks and squirrels in eastern parts of the U.S.

In 2010, Missouri didn't have a lot of cases, but had more than the decade before. Better safe than sorry.

Research has also shown that the telltale 'bull's eye rash' isn't always evident. In many cases, no rash of any sort appears at all. The Center for Disease Control lists these symptoms and safety precautions: Early signs and symptoms (3 to 30 days after tick bite):Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Erythema migrans (EM) rash: Occurs in approximately 70 to 80 percent of infected persons; begins at the site of a tick bite after a delay of 3 to 30 days (average is about 7 days); expands gradually over a period of days reaching up to 12 inches or more (30 cm) across; may feel warm to the touch but is rarely itchy or painful; sometimes clears as it enlarges, resulting in a target or "bull's-eye" appearance; may appear on any area of the body.

Later signs and symptoms (days to months after tick bite): severe headaches and neck stiffness; additional EM rashes on other areas of the body; arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling, particularly the knees and other large joints; facial or Bell's palsy (loss of muscle tone or droop on one or both sides of the face); intermittent pain in tendons, muscles, joints, and bones; heart palpitations or an irregular heart beat (Lyme carditis); episodes of dizziness or shortness of breath; inflammation of the brain and spinal cord; nerve pain; shooting pains, numbness, or tingling in the hands or feet; problems with short-term memory.

Repel ticks with DEET or Permethrin: Use repellents that contain 20 to 30 prcent DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on exposed skin and clothing for protection that lasts up to several hours. Always follow product instructions. Parents should apply this product to their children, avoiding hands, eyes, and mouth. Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5 percent permethrin. It remains protective through several washings. Pre-treated clothing is available and may provide longer-lasting protection. Other repellents registered by the Environmental Protection Agency may be found at Insect Repellents: Use and Effectiveness .

Find and remove ticks from your body: bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within 2 hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that are crawling on you. Conduct a full-body tick check using a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body upon return from tick-infested areas. Parents should check their children for ticks under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist, and especially in their hair. Remember to examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and day packs. Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for an hour to kill remaining ticks. (Some research suggests that shorter drying times may also be effective, particularly if the clothing is not wet.)

Until the next time friends, remember, if you go hunting, the farther east you go the more infected ticks you may encounter. Five years ago, Missouri had few incidents of Lyme's disease. But the numbers may be rising. People tend to disregard the dangers of Lyme's disease, but if it has been several months since you contacted it, the effects can be drastic and chronic. When in doubt, see your doctor.