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?

You are aware of a potential risk, so if in the very rare circumstance of your child being bitten by a tick and then developing Lyme disease symptoms you will know what to do. That is a good thing, this knowledge minimises the risk of it going undetected which is when problems occur.

If you are staying somewhere very rural, look at recognising giant hogsweed, avoid that at all costs.

This is a very bad year for ticks. Everyone is saying so here (Scotland). I've never had a tick before this year, and am very careful. But I've had 6 ticks so far this year.

Just take a tick remover, look out for ticks when showering and go to the drs if the bite turns nasty. We have loads of them in my area and think nothing of a tick bite. Lyme disease is treatable, you just need to know what to look out for. Same as you would for any bite, scratch or cut getting nasty!

What a bizarre thing to cancel your holiday over. Ticks aren’t a new thing...

What do you think people do who LIVE in rural areas?! Please don’t worry. I’ve had Lymes and it’s really rare, the dr bought other drs in to see it because they get so few cases. Enjoy your holiday!

Go on holiday, wear jeans tucked into socks if going for a walk in long grass, buy tick removers and do a tick check every night, if you do get a tick then remove it immediately, then be watchful for symptoms of Lyme Disease, if you get symptoms go to the GP and get medication. No prob.

We live in a very ticky area and my kids get ticks from our actual garden! It isn't nice and you do need to be vigilant, but not to the point that you don't go for your lovely countryside holiday. If you check every night it's v unlikely the tick will be in long enough to pass on the disease anyway x

We live in the countryside and go for walks all the time - long grass all over the place - and have never even had a tick at all! You are being a little bit ridiculous x

You are being overly anxious about this. Millions of people (me and my DC included) live rurally, and walk through long grass daily.

One of my horses has had a tick, once. One of my cats also once . I dobt know any people that have had them.

I don’t mean to give you nightmares but I don’t live in the countryside and had a tick on my boob, just wandering about. Birds, hedgehogs, deers, pets can all carry them. Lyme disease is rare, ticks are not.

Just be cautious, and have a poke and prod in the shower, they are very small spider like creatures, don’t cancel your holiday over something that’s probably where you live anyway.

I found a tiny tick behind my DSs ear this week. I had no idea what it was so I picked it off with my fingernail. Someone told me it was a tick. I've checked for rashes but he seems fine.

Used to live in a semi rural area. Often go to the countryside for walks. Have never ever given ticks a thought or been bitten by one. Have you also considered that one of your children could be snatched by an eagle and carried away

Where long trousers when you walk. I had a tick attach itself to the back of my knee, had to go to a walk in clinic to get it removed which they did in seconds. Lyme disease is pretty rare but they'll tell you what to watch out for

@QuitMoaning

I think you may be overly anxious about this. I have lived in countryside for many years, , know many many people living in countryside, have family’s members in the medical profession and I have never known a single person get Lyme’s disease

Ever.

It is obviously not impossible but the risks are ridiculously tiny.

This

Definitely don't cancel because of this, it's really unlikely that any of you will get bitten by a tick.

Just wear long trousers or leggings and avoid long grass where possible.

Also in the hugely unlikely event that one of you contract Lyme Disease then you can be prescribed antibiotics.

My DD goes to an activity in a woodland area in a busy south London borough. She got a tick the other week.

Just wear long trousers tucked into socks if you can, check body afterwards and - as almost everyone else has said - get a cheap tick removal device and keep it in the day bag/first aid kit.

In high risk areas (eg Scotland) apparently 1 in 5 ticks carries Lyme disease.

Its fine because it doesn't sound like you are going to let them anywhere near any long grass now! No, honestly OP you will be ok and they will be ok. The bad things that happen in our lives are rarely the ones we worry about and you must not transmit your anxiety or restrict their (or your) fun. Sensible advice (tell them we wear long trousers on walks and we don't roll around or play in long grass or undergrowth, because there's sometimes a problem with ticks - give them the facts but not the fear or ott restriction). Paddle in the sea or rivers but follow guidelines on any open water swimming. Enjoy your holiday.

Honestly, I’m a huge worrier, know someone who has severe Lyme disease - and even I wouldn’t even consider cancelling a holiday on account of this! As others have said: buy the gadget, check all over when you come in, and absolutely do wear long socks and proper shoes under trousers for walks in long grass - which is a total bummer in hot weather but if this is the U.K. it’s probably going to be fairly crap anyway Enjoy your holiday, it sounds divine!

Wear long sleeved cotton clothes with gathered seams.

Don't go into long grass.

Check at the end of each day.

You are working unnecessarily but this is what you can do.

Check for ticks at the end of each day, and then take them out if you find any. You’re only likely to get Lyme disease if the ticks are on there a few days, I believe.

When near long grass or in the countryside, I check myself and DS every day. So far I haven’t found one on us. My dog seems to have one every single time, however! Despite the tick treatment I religiously give him! So I think humans aren’t their preference.

If you're that worried use insect repellent with deet and long trousers

Had my dog for 6 years. Never found a tick!

I’ve had Lyme disease caught from a tick in North America. I never even noticed it on the back of my leg so it definitely wasn’t there for 48 hours as a pp mentioned.( My friend saw the mark on the back of my leg when she was behind me while climbing some steps. ) I was hiking through woods and wasn’t wearing long trousers so it was my own fault.
The symptoms appeared after I was home for a couple of weeks. I’ll be honest, it was an horrendous experience and I needed at least three doses of antibiotics.It was at least a year before I started to feel better.
Take precautions, long sleeves and long trousers. Check over each other each evening. You’ll be fine.

I live in the aforementioned countryside and walk my dog through fields and grasses daily. I do wear trousers and socks in the sheep fields to avoid ticks but not elsewhere. Not had a tick since I was a teen (currently 43!)

YABU