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?

Just to say that one of my children had contracted Lyme disease from a tick bite, and it is reasonably easily cured with antibiotics. The important thing is to be vigilant. And it wasn't even on a holiday!

The nurse was furious with them for wasting the hospital’s time, flicked the tick off in about two seconds and sent the parent out with a flea in their ear () and with directions to the local pet shop to get a tick flicker. She did not hold back after they’d gone.
Nothing to be admired here, to be honest, idiotic and arrogant behaviour by the nurse. I think the awareness of the dangers that ticks represent is quite low even in the medical community in the UK, given that Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis are relative newcomers to these shores, so still "exotic" in the curriculum. In many other countries it is quite the norm to get medical attention after the bite, send all extracted ticks to the lab, and for open green public spaces to be treated against ticks.

Honestly, please don't worry. I live in a quite rural location. Wear long trousers with socks over the top of the bottom of the trousers and trainers.

I think you are being overly anxious about this.

Enjoy your holiday.

Not sure it's already been said, but only about 2% of ticks carry the disease in this country.

So you would have to be bitten by one, which is a rare event, especially if you wear appropriate cover. You would then have to be unlucky that that tick falls into the 2%. You would then have to not notice and have no rash that would raise the alarm bell so that you miss out on antibiotics.

that's so many ifs, making the probability so low, it makes no sense when you are much more at risk of death or permanent disability travelling there.

Insect repellent on arms, legs, back of neck etc.

Have a lovely time at the beach.

I live in Scotland and it's been reported that ticks are more prevalent this year because of the summer rain we've had. I was aware to check dc and ddog after running through long grass in shorts but no ticks to be seen. Ddog has only ever had one. As long as you get them out quickly then it's not really a risk but you can keep an eye on the site and get antibiotics if needed. As a pp also said I was born and brought up in the Scottish countryside where ticks and apparently Lyme is more common that other parts of the UK but have never known anyone to contract it.

Seems OTT. Cancel?
In Dorset they are warning of tics now, but no one has had any so far.

Oh and to add - the one tick ddog has had was picked up in a city park

We check for ticks every time we’ve been for a walk because we live near the Highlands. Scoop them off, kill them, job done. But check everywhere, and I mean everywhere. They like moist warm places.

Just put them in long cotton trousers, socks and trainers and a long sleeve shirt. Not worth cancelling a holiday over!

Ticks are everywhere, not just in countryside. We live in a little coastal town and have had them on the dog before and often see Hedgehogs with them. Very very OTT to cancel your holiday tbh.

I live in a high tick area and walk daily in the hills through long grass and woodland. My dogs pick them up regularly unless frontlined. I take no precautions and often walk bare legged. In 38 years I have had 2 ticks. Both were easily removed with no after effects. Stop being silly.

I haven’t read through 9 pages of comments but in case no one has suggest it, get some Smidge spray. Repels midges, ticks and other bugs. Doesn’t smell strongly and really seems to work (but also take a tick remover and tweezers, just in case).

To avoid getting Lyme Disease don't paddle in stagnant water. Done. I wear shorts and sandals in long grass and have never got a tick. My cat got one once from the garden. I'd be more worried about snakes personally as I've seen quite a few of those.

Is this a joke post?

@pollymere

To avoid getting Lyme Disease don't paddle in stagnant water. Done. I wear shorts and sandals in long grass and have never got a tick. My cat got one once from the garden. I'd be more worried about snakes personally as I've seen quite a few of those.

I think you must be thinking of Weil's disease.

Lyme disease is spread by ticks, and the prevalence of ticks is very area dependent - long grass in areas with lots of deer is likely to be high risk, long grass without deer is low risk.

@forinborin

The nurse was furious with them for wasting the hospital’s time, flicked the tick off in about two seconds and sent the parent out with a flea in their ear () and with directions to the local pet shop to get a tick flicker. She did not hold back after they’d gone. Nothing to be admired here, to be honest, idiotic and arrogant behaviour by the nurse. I think the awareness of the dangers that ticks represent is quite low even in the medical community in the UK, given that Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis are relative newcomers to these shores, so still "exotic" in the curriculum. In many other countries it is quite the norm to get medical attention after the bite, send all extracted ticks to the lab, and for open green public spaces to be treated against ticks.

Agreed, the nurse was a fool.

Ticks are everywhere. We have tons even in the garden as the dogs always getting them. I’ve never been bitten. Wear long sleeves in woods / countryside

Never met anyone with lyme disease have you. Look out for bulls eye red bite. Cover legs, your more likely to be bit by an adder 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I'm not sure about that. Apparently there are 50-100 adder bites per year in the UK. I can account for 5 tick bites this year on my own (I walk often in high risk areas), and there will be plenty more like me.

It's nothing to freak out about, but you are definitely not more likely to be bitten by an adder.

Good grief! You do realise you can pick up a tick anywhere outside! Surely you go to parks, adventure playgrounds, pub beer gardens etc, your own garden??
It's no different in the 'countryside'!
Just be vigilant (as you always should) and check the kids and yourself for ticks when you come in. If there's a tick remove it asap. If there's a rash or any illness following it go to GP and ask for course of antibiotics.
But don't panic! It's still quite rare to contract Lyme disease.
If you are really worried put some bug spray on before you go out.
Enjoy your holiday!

We live in the countryside and we manage to survive. Plenty of ticks, all of us have had at least one at some point, and the dog and cats get quite a few. It’s never been a big deal. We obvs check for them, and watch bite sites for a few months afterwards but it’s fine. Not everywhere has long grass!

It's the English countryside, not the Florida swamps! You need to get out more

I regularly stay in a country with many ticks - and stay in the countryside. We all get at least one tick per trip. However, not all ticks are infected and if you are frequently checking and remove a tick with 24-36 hours it’s very unlikely you would be infected anyway. Do a tick checks every evening before bed/shower. If walking in long grass, trousers tucked into socks. You can spray your shoes with tick repellent. Check in the children’s hair and behind their ears - these have been common places for bites for us.

Lyme disease control a totally treatable so if you see a tick or bite go to doctors for test - no big deal. We’ve been living in America 15 years and they have lots of ticks and other nasty illness spread by mosquitos. We don’t let it keep us home.