SUMMER SAFETY: DON'T GET BUGGED BY FLEAS AND TICKS

BY PRIYA SONI, MD

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT TICK BITES?

There are several precautions to take before you hit the trails that can prevent bites, such as:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
• Tuck the bottom of your pants into your boots or socks.
• Apply tick repellent to clothing. Products with DEET will repel ticks and products with permethrin will kill ticks on contact.
• Avoid hiking in tall grass or heavily wooded areas because ticks tend to live and thrive in those areas.
• Try to hike in the center of the trail to reduce contact with ticks.

HOW DO YOU CHECK FOR TICKS WHEN YOU GET HOME?

"The best place to inspect for ticks is in the shower. When you are inspecting your child check around the ears, near the hair line, under the arms, behind the legs and even inside the belly button because ticks like those crevices.

HOW DO YOU REMOVE A TICK?

To remove a tick use a tweezer, and you want to apply the force of the tweezer at the base of the tick and pull up. You don't want to twist the tick off because you can leave parts of the tick inside embedded in the skin. If a tick is noticed within 24-hours of the hike or bite, and you are able to successfully remove it, the risk of transmission of any tickborne disease is very, very low.

WHAT CAN TICK BITES CAUSE?

Ticks that carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease can also carry other bacteria and cause infections known as Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis. Symptoms of both can include fever, muscle aches, weakness and headache. Unlike Lyme disease, a rash is not as common. Symptoms usually occur one to two weeks after a bite from an infected tick. In both cases, they can be treated with proper antibiotics. Not every bite from an infected tick however, results in an infection.

WHAT OTHER BITES DO HIKERS NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR?

It's very important for parents to also understand that ticks are not the only thing that can bite. Infections can be caused by fleas. It is called "fleaborne typhus" and it is caused by a Rickettsial bacteria causing infection. Animals that can carry these infected fleas include cats, wild possums, rats and mice. The infection is usually characterized by high grade fever, a rash as well as a bad headache. It's very important for parents to be aware if that their child goes hiking and has these symptoms, that could be from exposure to an infected flea.

Overall, the best advice is prevention, by wearing the right clothing and using repellents. But if you suspect someone in your family has a flea or tick infection, it's important to let your doctor know you've been hiking to get the proper diagnosis.•

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Priya Soni is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at CedarsSinai Medical Center and UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles, CA. She is a clinician who cares for children with complex infections, including those who are immunocompromised. Additionally, she is a clinical researcher who studies the role of intestinal permeability, gut microbiome, metabolomics, and host immune responses during human Kawasaki Disease. Since the start of the pandemic, her academic focus has shifted as she has become a key leader in the Cedars-Sinai response to COVID-19. Her research focus has now expanded to better understand COVID-19 in children through her involvement in several collaborative studies.