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Fleas and Ticks Insect Repellents

Lyme Disease

image Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease is an infection caused by Borrelia, which are cork-screw shaped bacteria carried by infected ticks. Ticks are found in woodland, long grass, urban parks and even gardens in the UK and throughout Europe.
The ticks that bite humans (the nymph stage) can be as small as a poppy seed as shown in image below.

Tick bites are not painful so at first you may not notice that you have been bitten. The most distinctive sign of a bite is a bull's-eye or a typical rash as shown below.
Other symptoms may include fatigue, nausea, headache, stiff neck, bells palsy and flu. Lymes disease can also mimic other conditions including MS, Alzheimer's and fibromyalgia.

There can be serious complications if a tick bite's left untreated.
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Tick And Insect Repellent Brands

Incognito
Incognito
Medicare
Medicare
Jungle Formula
Jungle Formula

Did You Know?

  • If you find ticks on your pets you are also at risk of tick bites.
  • You can get bitten by a tick any time of year.
  • You do not have to be near deer or livestock to be bitten by an infected tick.

How To Protect Yourself From Tick Bites

  • Wear Insect Repellent during outdoor activities.
  • Avoid walking through long grass, stick to pathways whenever possible.
  • If you have to walk in long grass tuck trousers into socks.
  • Wear light coloured clothing and brush off any visible ticks.
  • Check yourself and your children for ticks especially in the hairline, navel, groin, ears and in between fingers and toes.

Popular Tick and Insect Repellents

Jungle Formula Dry Protect Insect Repellent Spray
Jungle Formula Dry Protect Insect Repellent Spray

How To Remove A Tick

It is extremely important as to how a tick is removed incorrect removal can result in:
  • The ticks head being left behind in the hosts skin: This can cause localised infection and even an abscess.
  • Compression or puncturing of the tick's body: This can lead to the tick's bodily fluids being squeezed back into the bloodstream of it's host potentially causing a serious infection.
If you see an embedded tick remove it as quickly as possible using the correct tick removal technique.

Tick Removal Tool

  1. Choose the most suitable tool. Engage the tool by approaching the tick from the side (the body of the tick is flat when unfed) until it is held securely.
  2. Lift the tool very lightly and turn it clockwise or counter-clockwise. Do not change direction as you could snap the tick's mouth part off and leave it embedded in the skin.
  3. The tick detaches itself after 2-3 rotations.
  4. After removing the tick, disinfect the bite site and wash hands with soap and water.
  5. You may want to keep the tick for identification just in case the tick's host becomes ill.
  6. Write the date of the bite on a piece of paper and put the tick in a sealed bag and store it in the freezer so your doctor can be certain a tick bite has occurred and use the information to make a diagnosis.

Tweezer Tick Removal Technique

  1. Grasp the tick as close to th skin as possible, pull up with steady, even pressure.
  2. Do not twist or jerk the tick as the mouth part may be left embedded in the skin. If any mouth part is left behind it can be removed with a sterilised needle or tweezers points.
  3. Compression or puncturing of the tick's body: This can lead to the tick's bodily fluids being squeezed back into the bloodstream.
  4. Do not handle the tick with bare hands, because disease causing organisms can enter through breaks in the skin, or through mucous membranes.
  5. After removing the tick disinfect the bite site with an antiseptic wipe or wound wash. Wash hands with soap and water.

Tick Removal Tools

  • Smidge Quick Untick Hooks
    Smidge Quick Untick Hooks

    For the easy and safe removal of ticks, an ideal tool to keep with you when camping, going to a festival or if your'e out and about walking in grassland and parks etc.

    £6.45
    (incl VAT)

Insect Repellents For Ticks, Mosquitoes & Other biting Insects

Natural Insect Repellents

For More information On Lyme Disease

Lyme Disease Uk. A charity founded by Lyme disease patients and run by volunteers.

NHS Lyme Disease Information about the symptoms and treatments.