To reduce the risk of Lyme disease:
- Stay away from places where ticks are often found—such as fields with brush and/or tall grass.
- Wear light-colored clothing. Wear long pants tucked into socks and long-sleeve shirts.
- Apply (EPA-approved) tick repellent to clothes and exposed skin.
- Wear permethrin-treated clothing.
- Check for and remove ticks. Remove them properly. Use tweezers, if possible. Then clean the bite site.
- Report any tick bite to the doctor. Some doctors give antibiotics within 72 hours of a tick bite—in a high-risk area. This can reduce the risk of Lyme disease.
- Check for signs of Lyme disease—such as a rash or fever within 30 days of the bite. Report any signs to the doctor.
References
Lyme disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/lyme-disease. Accessed November 11, 2021.
Lyme disease. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease. Accessed November 11, 2021.
Personal protection. Lyme Disease website. Available at: https://www.lymedisease.org/lyme-basics/ticks/personal-protection. Accessed November 11, 2021..
Preventing tick bites. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/lyme/prev/index.html. Accessed November 11, 2021.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board David L. Horn, MD
- Review Date: 11/2021
- Update Date: 11/11/2021