Flea and tick bites are not only annoying, but they can also prove to be pretty dangerous. Since fleas and ticks and notorious for being infected with dangerous diseases like Lyme disease, rocky mountain spotted fever, etc, and if you are bitten by one, it’s important to see a medical professional as soon as possible should you start to exhibit any unusual symptoms. One way to prevent being infected with Lyme disease and similar illnesses is by preventing flea and tick bites in the first place. There are various ways to prevent flea and tick bites, and choosing the best way for you and your family depends on your particular situation.
Long pants – It’s a good idea, despite how hot it may be outside, to wear long pants and long sleeved shirts that are tucked in. This will minimize the chances of fleas and ticks biting you since no skin will be exposed.
Repellants – The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the usage of Deet containing products whenever participating in outdoor activities, especially in wooded areas and areas known to be infested with ticks. Permethrin-containing products are great from spraying on clothes, tents, nets and any other objects that you’ll have near you. One thing to remember is that you should never apply permethrin directly to the skin in order to avoid any irritation and also to keep this toxic chemical from being absorbed into your skin.
Proper pet prevention – If you have dogs and cats, even if they’re inside pets, you’ll need to ensure that you give them regular flea treatments. It doesn’t matter if you regularly use flea baths, collars, systemic treatments or whatever your vet recommends, you need to use it regularly in order to prevent fleas and ticks from invading your home, which could easily result from merely one flea.
Regular exterminator visits – If your pet has had fleas in the past, you may want to pay for regular visits from an exterminator. These professionals can come to your home and apply a solution that won’t bother your or your pets that can keep aggravating fleas and ticks out of your home. It doesn’t have to be expensive, either, as prevention is often a lot cheaper than actually getting rid of pests that have already invaded your home.
No one wants to be bitten by a flea or tick, but it sometimes does happen if certain precautions aren’t taken, especially if a person has pets or goes hiking or performs other activities in wooded areas. Luckily there are various ways to prevent flea and tick bites so that preventing diseases that these insects sometimes carry is simple and hassle-free.
References
CDC Tick Safety Page – wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/mosquito-tick.aspx
Flea net – Preventing fleas -
www.flea.net/
