3. Stay cool.
With the rise in tickborne diseases like Lyme, you may be tempted run screaming to your doctor. But, there’s no need. About 80 percent of the time, you’ll show a clear sign if you contract the disease — a painless rash in the form of a bull’s eye, accompanied by a lingering fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle and joint pain. Per the CDC, infected people develop a rash within three to 30 days from being bitten. .
4. Seek treatment.
When caught in the early stages, a bite can be treated with a course of antibiotics — two- to four-week course of doxycycline.
Of course, the best way to avoid the disease, is prevention. Here’s what steps you should take to protect against ticks:
- Avoid areas with high grass.
- If hiking, stay in the center of trails.
- Use repellent. Opt for brands that contain 20 percent or more DEET.
- Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and camping equipment with permethrin, an insecticide that proven to reduce tick bites by 76 percent.
- Treat dogs for ticks. Not only are your four-legged friends susceptible to tick bites and some tickborne diseases. But, they can carry ticks into your home.
- Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off any creepy crawlers before they have time to bite.
To learn more about Lyme disease, symptoms and treatments, click here.