Sunshine Pediatrics, LLC

Warning: It's Tick Season

As families trade winter coats for hiking boots and soccer cleats, May marks the official start of tick season. Spending time outside at summer camps, sports fields, and even your own backyard is excellent for your children's health. Still, it is important to protect them from tiny hitchhikers that can carry serious illnesses, such as Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis.

Ticks thrive in tall grass, brush, and wooded areas. They do not jump or fly. Instead, they wait at the tips of low-growing plants to latch onto a passing child or pet.

You can keep your family safe without keeping them indoors. Follow these simple steps to reduce exposure:

o Dress for Success - Dress your kids in light-colored clothing so ticks are easier to spot. Tuck their pants into their socks when hiking in the woods or playing in tall grass.

o Use Protection - Apply an EPA-registered repellent containing DEET or Picaridin to your children's exposed skin. For extra protection, treat their outdoor gear, shoes, and camp backpacks with permethrin.

o The "Full Body" Check - Make tick checks part of your family's daily routine. After your kids come inside, do a thorough check. Focus on hidden spots like behind the knees, around the waistband, under the armpits, and in the hairline. Tossing their play clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes will also kill any lingering ticks.

If you find a tick on your child, stay calm. Remove it immediately with fine-tipped tweezers by grasping it close to the skin and pulling upward with steady pressure. Afterward, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water, rubbing alcohol, or hand sanitizer.

If you remove a deer tick (also known as a blacklegged tick) from your child in the DC area or other regions with a high prevalence of Lyme disease, and the bite occurred within the past 36 to 72 hours, contact your pediatrician. They can advise you on whether a preventive dose of Doxycycline is necessary.

Keep a close eye on the bite site for the next 30 days. Contact your pediatrician right away if you notice a "bullseye" rash or any expanding area of redness. You should also reach out if your child develops a sudden fever, chills, unexplained fatigue, or persistent muscle and joint aches.

Caught early, most tick-borne illnesses are easily treated with a short course of antibiotics. By taking a few simple precautions, you can ensure your family enjoys a healthy and active summer outdoors.

How to remove a tick Tick bites can make people sick. If you find a tick attached to your skin, remove the tick as soon as possible. Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the ...