To cancel holiday due to ticks

[worrier7]

Myself, DH and our two young sons are going on holiday this month. We'll be staying in the UK, in a very rural, self-catering cottage. We're hoping to enjoy some country walks and also spend time at the local beach.

However, I recently read an article about Lyme Disease and how it's caught from ticks living in long grass. I'm now terrified that one or more of us could get a tick on our skin and catch Lyme Disease, which sounds terrible.

I'm wondering whether to cancel the holiday altogether and book somewhere in a town instead. We were really looking forward to our countryside holiday but I'm now hugely anxious about the ticks - especially as my sons are very active and will no doubt want to play in the long grass. What would you do?

[Jeannie88]

I've never really given much attention to risk of ticks, just get the tools etc in case. A lot of people live in the country do in sure it doesn't bother them. Go and have a lovely time! X

[LifesTooShortForYourNonsense]

I had to come back and see if this was, in fact, some kind of risk comparison to Covid - I thought op was maybe trying to make a point by diminishing the threat of a global pandemic, but no. As you were.

[HeronLanyon]

Also agree long trousers on walks - nettles, gorse, rocks etc all make them line of essential. If it’s very hot I tend not to go walking anyway - far too much bother what with sun cream, loads of water, etc. Hot sunny days see me doing short walks or beach trips or doing jobs around the house. Long walks are spring/autumn delights mainly where possible.

[Tinpotspectator]

I agree long trousers are recommended. Also not sandals. I wear a very thin long sleeve t shirt in the forest too. I have never been bitten.

[GladAllOver]

Always wear long trousers walking in the country. There are irritating plants like Hogweed that can cause very painful lesions.

[bemusedmoose]

Where ever you go there is a risk of something!

I deal with ticks all the time. If you get one - do not smother it, burn it or pull it - they will regurgitate their stomach contents into your bloodstream. Invest in a tick twister from any pet shop or vet and follow instructions on safe removal (they cost between £2-£4). Lymes can be treated with strong antibiotics, the biggest hurdle is most doctors don't believe it exists so get treatment is difficult so if needed fight for it.

I know people and animals with it and it can be awful but it is not just ticks that spread it - any biting insect can and frankly you are more likely to get mozzie bites but no one worries about that.

Tuck trouser into socks when walking and brush off any on clothes. When you get back have a good check of everyone and you'll be fine.

[Zhampagne]

@Hadenough2021

You definitely sound like someone who lives in London.
As someone who lives in a rural location, chill. It’s rare, if it does happen you’ll notice and it’s easily dealt with.

London has been one of the worst places for ticks in the last few years.

[Hadenough2021]

You definitely sound like someone who lives in London.
As someone who lives in a rural location, chill. It’s rare, if it does happen you’ll notice and it’s easily dealt with.

[Octavia1]

Christ almighty. You’re being absolutely ridiculous. That’s all.

[BaronessOfTheNorth]

Hmmm. I recently moved out of a town and now live rurally. However I used to be in the countryside every weekend (for all of my 37 years).

I've never had a tick.

Go on holiday.

[Indoctro]

I live in Scotland in high tick area my kids have never got one and I've had one

I always wear king trouser and tuck into socks and I always spray my legs and kids legs with this stuff it's very affective

Chambers Natural Tick Repellent... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01F71JN2M?ref=ppx%5D%5D%5B%5Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fdp%2FB01F71JN2M%3Fref%3Dppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 poppmobappshare

[LabStan]

You do realise that some of us live in the countryside permanently.
Its a bit like me saying...".I heard that there are muggers in towns and we might be all murdered or permanently disabled."
Go and enjoy your holiday !!!

[ellyeth]

If you applied that reasoning to every aspect of life you wouldn't go anywhere because there are risks in everything we do. Just take sensible precautions, such as checking for ticks and getting a tick remover.

You seem unduly anxious. Do you worry about lots of things? If so, perhaps some counselling would help.

I hope you and the family have a lovely holiday.

[567fedup]

www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

[BigPyjamas]

We're in a high risk Lyme / tick area. We check the kids daily for ticks. Youngest is a magnet, regularly find them on her, eldest much less so.

Don't forget to check under arms on ears too.

My DH had a bullseye mark after a bite, GP gave us all a hefty course of antibiotics as a precaution as we'd all been bitten too (no mark) and we're all fine.

[DebHagland]

If you worry about everything that could possibly happen, I'm surprised you ever leave your house. (although most accidents happen at home).
The chances of getting bitten by a tick are low, the chances that that tick will infect you with Lyme's disease are lower, just check for ticks each night, if you find one don't pull it off, use a proper tick remover.

[LibrariesGiveUsPower45321]

Just for clarification DH had the bullseye rash.

[LibrariesGiveUsPower45321]

My husband got a tick bit working in a town. Course of antibiotics and he was fine.

Life isn’t without risks. Take precautions and go enjoy your holiday.

[LankylegsFromOz]

I must admit I haven't RTFT, just OP comments.

But OP, I live in Oz and where I live is right in the thick of tick country. They are nasty little fuckers, but dangerous to animals. My understanding is they are harmless to humans except on very rare occasions where they may cause Lymes disease. I have never met a sole who has had this condition in my 50 years.

So I think you'll be fine on your holiday. But maybe just never plan to visit Australia. Ticks are the least of our creepy crawly worries 😉

[Junkmail]

I pull ticks off my dogs (and myself 🙈) on an almost daily basis! If you remove them within 24 hours of them latching on there’s a very low chance of disease spreading to you. My husband has Lyme disease which he got when he was a child but he grew up in an area of the US where the disease is much more prevalent.

You can buy a little hook tool that makes removing them super easy. I got mine at the vet. Do a tick check each evening and you’ll be fine. Not something to cancel a holiday over.

[Localocal]

Long trousers for country walks and a tick remover, as others have said. There are ticks carrying Lyme disease in the London parks that have deer in them too - it's not just the country.

[Esspee]

Most tics I've seen recently are very tiny. They look like tiny black spiders until they latch on and swell up.

[Esspee]

I live in a large city. Since lockdown when the council used covid as an excuse to do nothing our parks are full of long grass hoaching with ticks. I have been told the transfer from dogs taken for country walks then taken to the parks are the means of transmission. Ever let your children play anywhere dogs have been OP?

[Deckchair1009]

That reminds me of a “blackhead” my son had on his back a few years ago, it was so tempting to pop, until I saw the legs poking out! I twisted it off and freaked about Lyme disease, but he was fine. It shouldn’t stop anyone enjoying the summer in long grass, but rather do checks after, escape especially bodily crevices and hair! Tick remover is the best way, none of this spraying with hairspray or burning off malarkey- that makes them regurgitate into the wound 🤮