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?

[eightyfourandahalf]

YAB massively U

There won't be any ticks in your cottage on or on the beach... just put wellies and sleeves on your kids when they are in the long grass.

and buy beach shoes, weevers are nasty too.

There's risk in everything!

[MarleneDietrichsSmile]

I live in the countryside

My kids have always played outside

Went for many long walks

Yes occasionally one of us has a tick, we remove it with the tick tweezer, and that is that

Your fear is a bit like me, country person, saying: I won’t take my kids to the city, as the risk of getting hit by a car is too great. iyswim

Lots of people LIVE in the country

Hope you have a lovely holiday

[Disfordarkchocolate]

I'd buy some lightweight walking trousers for them and check them each day for ticks.

[Scottishskifun]

You can pick up a tick anywhere there are deer all over the place including in Londons Richmond Park!

Insect repellent, tick remover and a good check at bath/shower times they like warm spots armpits, back of knees especially.

I have picked up many ticks all across the UK, my DS picked one up walking to the beach I'm not going to stop going to the beach! Just get used to checking they are fairly obvious after a few hours (will look like a small scab but with legs). Just make sure you remove properly and double check what you pull off has a head and keep an eye on the bite. Generally it needs to be attached for over a day for Lymes disease or the head left in.

[justasking111]

Check the UK tick map, that tells you where the hotspots are. Get the tick remover and enjoy the holiday.

[Lovemusic33]

I live in a area where there are a lot of ticks, I probably get bitten 2-3 times a year and am now a pro at removing them, I walk most days so I think over all the chances are very slim. I now have a good bug spray and a good pair of tweezers.

[Kettletoaster]

Just wear long trousers (tucked into socks if you are particurly worried) and long sleeve tops on walks and you’ll be fine.

I caught lyme disease from a tick a few years ago. Was bitten and developed the tell tale bullseye rash. Straight to the OOH GP who immediately prescribed a 3 week course of strong antibiotics. I am fine and have been ever since. It wouldn’t put me off walking in the countryside again, I am just more cautious with my clothing now.

Enjoy your holiday OP!

[stellaisabella]

I live in the country, I've had one tick in 30 years - you'll be fine

[dreamingofsun]

we, and the dog, had a load of ticks this year from our back garden in the town centre.

I only know of one person who had Lyme's and that was treated successfully , just make sure you see the doctor if you have a red ring round the bite or feel super tiered.

[Psychonabike]

Ticks, including those that carry Lyme are everywhere here (Highland).

It's just a normal part of life.

We check after outings, before the kids have a shower.
Remove ticks with a tick remover.
Check for any target lesion after a tick has been found.
Get antibiotics is there is any inflammation/target lesion after a tick has been found.

And repeat, repeat, repeat.

Honestly, it's just normal life for rural people. My kids are in Scouts -Beavers and Cubs. I love it when the leader reminds us to "Check your Beaver for ticks"

[567fedup]

I find them scary and have had 6 of them so far this year. Is the cottage in a high risk area (where there are lots of deer)? If not, I wouldn't worry too much.
If still worried, wear light trousers tucked into socks and spray with tick repellent (this is made from nice smelling essential oils). Make sure the children wear sun hats, which can also be sprayed.

[dreamingofsun]

you are more likely to get bitten by an adder round here than get Lyme's.

[Redsquirrel5]

Lived in the country for 35 years and never got a tick. Go and enjoy your holiday.

[JimLaheysWhiskeyBottle]

[quote MissChanandlerBong22]@JimLaheysWhiskeyBottle

I had no idea you could get vaccinated against Lyme Disease![/quote]
I've just checked my vaccine card, didn't want to give the wrong information. It's TBE the vaccine is for. In Sweden, one of the big problems was tick borne encephalitis. There was a child where I worked who contracted this from a tick in the wooded play area and was actually very poorly, but wasn't vaccinated.
The vaccination in Sweden was voluntary and you have to pay, so some people don't get it. But the tick vans are everywhere, you just walk up, pay and its done, then you get a text a few weeks later for the next dose and a list of where the vans will be.
I think my mum had to pay in the UK, but she said it was no different to getting the jabs for exotic holidays.
The poster above is correct in that the tick really doesn't have to be on you for very long.

[Lorw]

I live in the deep countryside and we are just sensible with our clothing. Jeans, long socks, county boots, never been bitten by a tick, though been bitten by other things

[Looubylou]

OP, you are right, ti ks can be minute, but you wouldn't miss one that had bitten your son, if you check at bathtime - they swell up and look like baked beans once they start feeding.

[IDontLikeZombies]

I would also add that we only moved over to tick removers about 10 years ago. Before that everyone used the more traditional methods of dousing them in whiskey, suffocating them with germolene or my own personal favourite- blowing out a match a applying the red hot end to the tick. If there was ever a thing that would make the tick vomit its whole stomach contents back into your blood stream its having its bum set on fire and I still don't know anyone.who caught Lýmea Disease.

[SwanShaped]

The only ticks my kids have ever got have been from city parks. It’s all the dogs and foxes and cats I think.

[MrsAvocet]

Ticks ate common where I live apparently. In the last 20 odd years we've had one member of our family of 5 bitten once. Oh , and my DD's dog got one once.They are much easier to spot on humans than dogs! I do know one person who has had Lyme disease. He recognised it, got treated and got better. It's hardly a common disease even for those of us who live in rural areas.
As others have said, take sensible precautions but the risk is really not that high. You can't live a risk free existence. You're probably more likely to catch Covid or get run over in a town than you are to get Lyme disease in the countryside. Avoid uncovered arms and legs in grassy areas, and check everyone after walking in potentially tick infested areas, but otherwise put it to the back of your mind and enjoy your holiday.

[makinganavalon]

I live in the Highlands so I couldn't exactly cancel life because of ticks. Just wear repellent, don't go in long grass, wear socks with hiking boots, check for ticks at the end of every day, remove properly if any on you and keep an eye on the patch and yourself if you do get one.
We've lived here for four years and got our first tick two weeks ago. If you're sensible you have less chance to pick them up and if you do YouTube how to remove properly and remove. Xx

[ViceLikeBlip]

@worrier7

Thank you for the replies - yes I am a big worrier.

I will get one of those tick remover tools that someone linked to before we go.

I did read that the nymph ticks can be absolutely tiny (about 1mm) so worry that I could miss one on my sons.

Apologies if this has been said 100 times (not read the full thread) but the nymph ticks are hardly any risk at all as they won't have fed on another animal yet, so they won't be infected.

[ineedaholidaynow]

Have you never been to the countryside before?

How are you getting to the cottage, do you worry about the journey?

[muffindays]

use some insect repellant on your clothing / skin as well as covering all bare skin!

[EarthSight]

Only you can decide if you're being unreasonable or not. Ticks tend to be attracted to places where there's a good chance they can latch on to something - so fields with cows and sheep are a good example. They don't all carry this disease. It manifests in patches so ticks in one area could have it, but not in another. You'll find them in long grass or shrubland in woodlands.

I'm from the countryside. I would advise that not matter what everyone else is going, get yourself some nice, lightweight, summery linen trousers that will be comfortable for you on hot days. When you're walking in places where you suspect there might be ticks, tuck your trousers into your socks or make sure you tie them at the bottom somehow. I wouldn't be walking around in long grass fields with bare legs, personally.

[SirVixofVixHall]

Where in the country are you going OP ? As risk varies by area.
Yes nymph ticks are a worry. They are the size of this full stop . So very hard to spot. Only about a third of people bitten by an infected tick will get the classic rash. DH got the rash without ever having seen a tick, even though it was in an easy to spot place on his torso.
A friend has Lyme disease and it has been pretty bad so I worry about it . I live rurally and I grew up around farms and sheep, it is definitely more of a problem than it used to be, there are a lot of ticks about.