6 days ago
Triad conservationist warns of tick dangers after hospitalization: ‘I got really sick'
(WGHP) — Tick season lasts from early spring through fall, and ticks can have dire consequences if they aren't found.
It can happen to even the most experienced outdoorsmen like Piedmont Land Conservancy Executive Director Kevin Redding.
Redding has spent most of his life outside, not only with his work, but his hobbies are fly-fishing and hunting.
Walking in nature has its rewards.
'The great part of my job is I get to spend a good amount of time outdoors. I get to hike properties, walk on greenways and walk in fields,' Redding said.
And it also comes with risks. Among the blades of grass and bramble are little insects small enough to fit on a pencil, and they love to jump on people and pets.
'My experience was I got really sick a few weeks ago from what turned out to be a tick bite, but we didn't know that at the beginning,' Redding said.
He underwent a battery of tests after ending up hospitalized before they landed on a diagnosis.
'I was fortunate because I knew I had a tick on me a week before,' he said.
The tick had given him a bacterial infection called ehrlichiosis.
He underwent treatment, which required antibiotics, and he's back to doing what he loves, but spreading the word that it can happen to anyone.
'Anytime you're out in vegetation … you need to wear light clothes. You need to spray. You need to check yourself really good afterwards … I do a really good job of that, and it still got me,' Redding said.
There are multiple illnesses from ticks, including Lyme disease.
'If you get sick, and you've been anywhere close to outdoors, make sure your doctor knows it's in your history, so they can quickly test you for tick-borne illness,' he said.
Here are the most venomous snakes to look out for in North Carolina and what to do if you get bitten
The four types of ticks to be aware of in NC are:
Black-legged tick (also known as deer tick)
The lone star tick
The American dog tick
The Brown dog tick
While the threat of Lyme disease is only found in black-legged ticks, which prefer spring and fall temperatures to summer, that doesn't mean there aren't other tick-borne diseases to be aware of.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is harmful to people and domestic dogs. It can be treated with antibiotics. If left untreated, it can sometimes cause death.
The symptoms include:
fever
headache
muscle pain
vomiting
possible rash
A tick must be attached for at least six hours to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and at least 24 hours to transmit Lyme disease, so checking yourself after any time spent in an environment that could have ticks is very important.
If you've been in a grassy and wooded area, it's always a good idea to check for ticks in the first few hours after you get back and take a shower to possibly wash off any potential ticks.
Insect repellents are effective as well and should be applied liberally.
Trying to avoid tick-infested areas while picking a campsite? Use a piece of white fabric and brush it across the ground. If you get ticks on the fabric, pick a new place.
If you get a tick on you, follow these steps to remove it:
Use tweezers to grab the tick as close to the surface of your skin as possible.
Pull up with steady pressure. Don't twist or jerk the tick since that can cause the mouth parts to break off and stay in your skin. If this happens, remove the mouth parts with tweezers. If you can't remove the mouth with tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
After the tick has been removed, clean the bitten area with alcohol or wash it with soap and water.
Never crush a tick, smother one with petroleum jelly or use a flame to try and get it to let go of you. Instead, flush it down the toilet, put it in a sealed bag, wrap it tightly in tape or put it in alcohol.
It's also good to frequently check your pets for ticks, especially if they've been outside because they can get a variety of diseases such as:
Lyme disease
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
canine ehrlichiosis
anaplasma
The CDC recommends talking to your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products for your dogs and making sure you know what kinds of ticks live in your area.
Here are the most venomous snakes to look out for in North Carolina and what to do if you get bitten
Ticks like to latch on to long-haired dogs, especially.
Reducing the tick habitat in your yard is another great way to keep your pets safe from the bloodsuckers.
Keep your yard mowed and free of leaf litter to avoid creating a prime environment for ticks.
For large-scale infestations, pesticides can be used to cut down on the tick population. Be mindful of your use of pesticides and follow the instructions exactly.
Don't let bitey little bugs ruin your summer. With the right preparations, ticks won't be a problem for you or your family.
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