Summer Precautions Against Ticks

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the seven varieties of ticks in the United States that transmit diseases to humans, five are found in Arkansas.  It’s important when you are out this summer that you take a few precautions: 1) Avoid contact with ticks.  Use a repellent and wear light colored clothes.  2) While bathing and showering check carefully for ticks.  3) Immediately remove ticks with a pair of tweezers.  Grasp the tick as close to the surface of your skin as possible.  4) Watch for symptoms of tick-borne diseases.  Symptoms include fever, aches and pains, chills, and can sometimes be followed by a rash.  Should you experience any of these symptoms you should contact your physician immediately. 

Sources:  The New England Journal of Medicine, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.