Protecting Children From Lyme Disease

Children, especially boys aged 5 to 9, are most at risk for contracting Lyme disease from infected ticks in Montgomery County. While Lyme disease awareness generally peaks in May, we think it’s important to remain focused on tick prevention year-round.

Historically, the number of reported cases of Lyme disease ramp up in April, become highest in June and July, and begin to taper in the fall. This may seem contradictory to beliefs that ticks are somehow more noticeable in the fall, which actually has a lot to do with the 2-year lifecycle of the Deer tick—the primary transmitter of Lyme disease in humans and pets.

What is Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is an illness caused by a bacterial infection contracted from the bite of an infected blacklegged tick (Deer tick). Learn more about how to identify blacklegged ticks in Montgomery county here.

What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?

Symptoms of Lyme disease vary widely from person to person, and may go undetected for weeks to even months. The earliest and most recognizable indication of Lyme disease is an expanding rash or redness originating at the site of the tick bite, however, as many as 50% of people who have been diagnosed with the disease do not recall noticing a rash or bite mark. Other early symptoms of Lyme disease may include fever, tiredness, headache, and body aches. Many people may live with complications from Lyme disease over several months, even years. When left untreated, joint pain, neurological problems, and paralysis have been known to occur.  

How are children affected by Lyme disease?

A growing number of cases of misdiagnosis (or false negative) from blood tests alone, present significant challenges for parents of children suffering from the debilitating effects of Lyme disease. Muscular weakness and extreme tiredness will often keep children from attending activities, playing sports, and cognitive impairments or short term memory problems become troublesome in the classroom. Symptoms that fluctuate over time make it especially important to keep a log, or timeline, of events and complaints to share with physicians.

How can I protect my children from Lyme disease?

We know that children are more susceptible to contracting Lyme disease, partly due to the amount of time spent playing outdoors in grassy or wooded areas, and the increased likelihood that a tick as tiny as the head of a ball point pen may go unnoticed. Keep these suggestions in mind for outdoor play time, year-round.

• Cover exposed skin. Whenever possible, wear long sleeves and pants when playing in grassy areas, in the woods, or in other areas where ticks might travel.
• Use insect repellent that contains 20% DEET. While the “all natural” claims of some types of insect repellents may sound appealing, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends keeping children protected from insect-related illnesses by using products containing DEET. Follow these recommendations for using DEET on children.
  
• Stick to trails. Avoid walking through tall bushes and other areas of dense foliage when walking or playing in wooded areas.
• Daily tick checks. Bath night or not, it’s important to check children every night during tick season. Be sure to inspect in hard to reach areas (ticks love these) like underarms, buttocks, inside the belly button, and in and around all body hair.
• Create tick-free zones in your yard. Cut back foliage and maintain your lawn to 3” height, or less. Remove brush, weeds, leaf litter and other yard debris that attracts ticks and their hosts.
• Keep pets protected. Pets can bring infected ticks into the home, resulting in a bite and transmission of Lyme disease. Maintain dogs and cats with a veterinarian-approved flea and tick control product—preferably one that contains the active ingredient Fipronil—and always check your pets for ticks after periods of outdoor play.

Treatment for Ticks in Montgomery County

Ticks that carry Lyme disease in urban environments are brought in on mice and white-tailed deer, particularly near homes and businesses that possess landscape features conducive to harboring ticks and their hosts. Most ticks will be found around perimeter/boundary areas, ornamental plantings, and stone walls. The prevalence and volume of ticks in outdoor spaces where our children play also depends on the amount of shade and moisture available. Treatment to boundary areas with a pesticide application, and in other targeted areas, is the most effective way to reduce the number of ticks found in backyards. Treatments are typically conducted as early as March or April, and continue through September or October.

For more information on tick control solutions in Montgomery County, simply contact American Pest.