Ticks - Lyme disease

[jimmychooing]

I've booked a holiday in summer to a campsite near the New Forest, and ever since I keep seeing loads of scary info about Ticks and the dangers of Lyme Disease! This isn't something I had ever really considered before and it's freaking me out!

Does anyone have any experience of this, or would this put you off visiting the New Forest? I realise there are other 'hotspots' in the UK and Europe, but the New Forest seems to be mentioned quite a bit and it's where I'm going...

Don't know details of New Forest but been in other areas. Getting rid of ticks is not a bundle of fun even if they're not Lyme's carriers, so best thing is to avoid picking them up. Risk areas are long grasses particularly, combine with exposed skin. So adults / older children need to consider trousers / closed shoes and kids should probably just be kept out as their heads / necks are at the right height. Dogs can pick them up too so make sure your pills are up to date for them if you're taking.

Thanks Overstating, no pets to worry about but an 8-year-old DS and me and DH. Doesn't sound like this will be much fun!

Get yourself a couple of tick removers from pet shops or Mountain Warehouse, carry them in your bag and check yourself and the DCs every evening.

I walk my dog in the new forest and similar areas.

If I know I will be walking though long ferns and grass I simply put long trousers on rather than shorts. If I stick to the gravel paths I would wear shorts. You can pick up a tick twizzler to safely remove them for a couple of pounds.

My dogs gets loads of ticks from the forest but that's because he runs through all the long ferns and grass. The only ones I have got have been from my own garden

Thanks ExpletiveDelighted and BiteyShark, that's helpful. I have been reading up on how to prevent and remove ticks and what to look out for etc, but tbh it doesn't sound like much of a relaxing holiday if I have to check us all each evening and be worried for weeks after any bite that it might turn to Lyme's!

Is the risk really all that great?!

Not all ticks carry lymes disease. And of those that do the longer they are attached will increase the risk so check and remove safely e.g. just because they have attached doesn't mean they have passed the disease on.

I understand if you don't live in a high tick/lymes disease area it seems very scary but really it's a non event for me other than being aware of them and what to look for. For example I went for a walk with my dog today and walked through really high ferns where lots of animals graze. I had trousers on but my arms were bare and I don't have any on me. My DH often walks in shorts and he has only had a couple of ones attach. The dog on the other hand picks up bloody loads each time.

Ticks are on the increase everywhere. Never really to bother about them 10 years ago, now I take precautions every time and still manage to get a few each year.

Generally I find it's more when I'm camping in fields (ie not commercial campsites) or doing a lot of walking through long grass. So far I haven't had any when walking on paths.

Long trousers & Insect repellents help.

Removing them is not hard, but has to be done correctly. I find the oTom tick twister the easiest, especially when you catch them quickly and they are tiny. I know others who prefer a tick lasso.

Definitely worth investing a couple of £ in the tool though, getting them out with tweezers/meths/Vaseline etc can cause the tick to regurgitate it's stomach contents which increases the likelihood of it transmitting lymes.

I understand, I worry about it too and we are also going to the New Forest this year. it doesn't take long to check yourself though, just a quick once-over when you undress.

We enjoy walking and also live in a tick area. I have had a few and like other people mention , remove as soon as possible. The small nymphs can be very small wonton have to be vigilant. They can also get into places you can't imagine !

not wonton ! Lol % you have *

Thanks everyone! I think I was hoping I'd post and get loads of people going 'it's fine, we go all the time and it's no big deal'

I really don't think I'll be able to relax when we're away - having to be aware of it and checking etc isn't my idea of relaxing

I wonder if it will start impacting on tourism in the area etc ? I think I'd think twice before booking somewhere with lots of ticks again tbh

I don't think it will impact tourism tbh as it's been a high tick area for some time and it's about weighting up the risk (think about all those other things you do all the time that can cause injury or illness).

It's a bit like mosquitoes abroad when you try and avoid being bitten but people still travel.

I wonder if it will start impacting on tourism in the area etc ? I think I'd think twice before booking somewhere with lots of ticks again tbh

I'm in New England where ticks have been an issue for decades, and it's had no effect on tourism.

Agree drsausage if I worried about everything that could make me ill I would never travel anywhere and I think most people view them as simply another nuisance bitey thing.

Not so much the ticks themselves - as you say, lots of things bite/sting etc - I guess I meant the risk of Lyme Disease but then I suppose people live and enjoy those areas all the time.

Just doesn't make for a relaxing break! I wouldn't, and don't, go places where I'd have to check my whole body for potential tiny insects after every outing. I mean, I'm obviously going to have to this year but I'd really rather not!

It's not just there. My toddler daughter got one on her face in a local park a couple of years ago. We're on the edge of London.

There's ticks all over the country. I've never picked one up but the dog has on exmoor, and DH did recently in the Outer Hebrides. It's only ever after being in undergrowth rather than on paths (so far). Easy to check for, easy to remove with a tick card.

So, yes it's something to be aware of and take sensible precautions, but not something that you should get stressed about.

We live in a lime disease area abroad - ticks also carry tick borne encephalitis.

My kids are vaccinated against tick borne encephalitis but you can't vaccinate against Lyme disease. You need to check for ticks every evening, remove any and look out for the round or bullseye rash. If you spot the rash you need an immediate GP appt or go to a walk in. Here the GP will always see you within an hour or so if you report the rash to the receptionist.

We've lived here 12 years - always been a tick area. My kids are always outside, including in a copse by the house and ling grass retrieving footballs etc.

I've only had to remove about 10 ticks between 3 kids over 12 years - one had to be removed at the hospital because I spotted it late in dc3s hair at the base of his neck and it was too securely fastened in.

My dc2 (now 12) had the Lyme disease rash when he was 6. I took him straight to the GP and he had to take antibiotics for 4 weeks. He had no symptoms and is completely fine. Obviously 4 weeks of antibiotics aren't ideal for gut flora or generally, but it completely prevents the onset of Lyme disease.

The odds on getting Lyme disease on a 2 week holiday are low, but just do a tick check before showering each evening and continue it for a few days after getting home.

It's not a reason to stay away IMO. There are hazards everywhere and the drive there obviously brings far greater risks from traffic accidents than the risk of Lyme disease presents.

I've never had a tick in 12 years, neither has DD - I think the ones here prefer male blood

Thanks for the replies, I am feeling a bit better about the whole thing after reading them and I do realise the odds are low. I just think it's all the campaign material I've read - it's very in your face! Talking about ticks the size of poppy seeds, and them hiding in places you can't necessarily see that well

I found a tick on my dc - presumably just from playing in our garden (not in New Forest!) - in a hard to spot area. It's been a wake-up call tbh- will be keeping an eye out for Lyme symptoms for the next month or so - and I'm going to be checking for ticks thoroughly from now on.

It was about the size of a poppy seed, too - so tiny I didn't realise what it was.

We go to the New Forest a couple of times of year and while we are aware (and carry a tick remover etc) we dont worry beyond that

Dont let it spoil your holiday

I was successfully treated for Lyme disease a couple of years ago, thankfully it was detected and treated early. I spend so much of my life outdoors and that won’t ever change, I think I’m just more vigilant now. I definitely wouldn’t be put off going to anywhere, in case of tick bites, but I’m just more aware
Jamaica, it’s the bulls eye rash you have to look out for, by he time someone is symptomatic, it’s harder to treat. Mine was tricky to diagnose because I ended up with cellulitis, which covered up the rash. Thankfully the GP listened and responded

I've removed literally thousands of ticks from dogs over the years, including my own, but despite being very outdoorsy and before I moved to Canada spending most weekends hiking on Dartmoor, Exmoor and the New Forest, I've never found a tick on myself. I've found upwards of 10 ticks on each of my dogs after some walks but none on me. Even if one does attach the chances of it carrying and transmitting Lyme disease is low. If you're that worried you could treat clothes and shoes with permethrin prior to going away (follow instructions carefully as it's toxic stuff and very dangerous to cats in particular). I really wouldn't worry too much about it though, just check yourself after walks.

I guess if you live in an area with a high number of ticks you get used to it, I'm fairly outdoorsy but haven't come across ticks before - that I know of! So I must go to places without them, or certainly where there's very low numbers with Lyme's.

It must be on the rise though, as there's a lot of campaigns to raise awareness in the new forest area