Ticks --- How big of a disease problem are they in orange county?

I just ran across a recent post where a guy mentioned spraying bug spray on himself and his clothing – and he also mentioned both his wife and daughter have lime disease! I would hate to bring that into the house. I always thought lime disease was a problem in Colorado-- not orange county....



Obviously the possible danger is there – but how common and realistic is lime disease from ticks in Orange County?


How cautious are you all? Do you worry about lime disease or is it really really rare?



I really love this sport but at the same time I don’t want to bring ticks into the home. I don’t want to overdo the tick situation either and just ride fire roads to avoid them – but I guess that might be one way to do it.



Fyi – I usually ride oaks and el moro but have recently ridden blackstar and the luge and surely will ride more of laguna in the summer.



My next thread is going to be about poison oak – I have already gotten very mild cases of it twice in 2 months! But ticks might be worse. All I have to worry about with surfing is a sun burn

Thanks!

 

I recently found a tick embedded in my neck after riding a trail (Chantry) with low hanging trees/bushes. I had a friend pull it out, but the head stayed embedded. I put hydrogen peroxide on it it for a week and my body eventually assimilated it. I have been tested for lyme disease a few years back but I was negative.

 

I take it very seriously, I cut off one of my legs and my head last time I had one.

 

You can buy tick-repellant clothing. http://www.insectshield.com/
BTW It's Lyme.

 

This month's Dirt Rag Magazine featured story is about ticks. Very useful information for all MTBers.

 

i have found ticks on my person a few times. they are disgusting and i hope they all burn in hell. fortunately they have never made me sick. i have several friends who have had them, all riding around Orange County trails, and none of them have been made sick by the bites either. thank goodness.

 

from the interweb: On the West Coast, the highest prevalence is in Northern California (4% of all cases in the U.S.), Oregon and southern Washington. Although there are reported cases in Southern California, especially in Malibu (sorry, liz) and the Pacific Palisades, the incidence is low.

a common sign of infection is the circular rash, erythema migrans, which isn't nearly as sexy as it sounds.

it's a much bigger problem back east.

VVV sweet, kay! greg gets to be the leader today.

 

My husband is my tick-magnet; he gets them all the time and (knock-on-wood) I've been lucky not to get any. But then again, I get P.O. and he doesn't.
I asked our vet if we should have our dog vaccinated for Lyme and she didn't think it was necessary for this area.

 

Risk Map of California

The ticks that carry Lyme disease have been found in all but two counties in California. Infected ticks have been found in 42 of 58 counties. Studies have not been conducted in all areas.


Personal Prevention

• PROTECT YOURSELF
• LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT
• PREVENTION POSTER
• TICK REMOVAL

Reduce Your Chances Of A Tick Bite

• Avoid tick-infested areas, such as leaf litter under trees.
• Avoid brushing against long grasses and brush on edges of paths.
• Don’t sit on stumps or fallen logs.
• Wear light-colored long pants and long sleeves so you can easily see any ticks.
• Tuck shirt into pants and tuck pants into socks.
• Use DEET on skin and treat clothing with spray containing permethrin.
• Do a thorough tick check upon returning inside and for several days following exposure.
• Check bedding for several days following exposure for ticks that drop off.
• Ticks, especially nymphal ticks, are tiny. Find and remove them before they bite.

 

I've got ticks a number of times. Worse area for me has always been Laguna Wilderness Park. Doing trail maintence once there and then went home. I didn't notice any ticks then but the next day the wife had one on her and no doubt it came from me as she had been inside almost the entire day. The little bugger picked a good place too, right on her right mammory gland. Needless to say she wasn't happy with me. I've also picked up ticks a number of times at Chino Hill state park. I'm not sure how many times I've found them on me I'd guess at least 20 times but I've never got sick and I got tested for Lyme disease just over a year ago. I know of none of my friends who have contacted it either. Seems to me they're a lot more active in the warmer months.

 

Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are both possible in Souther California, but are generally not transmitted until a tick has been lodged for more than 24 hours. So a tick check and pulling the tick out should prevent any issues (the best was is to use forceps as close to the head as possible being careful to apply only as much pressure as necessary to grip the tick and pull it out -- apply gentle pressure away from your body until the entire tick is removed).

Also, this time of year, ticks are still in their nymph stage, so they tend to be small and hard to see. So extra scrutiny is required, or treat your clothing (I do my socks, especially) with permetherin, as suggested above.

UPDATE: to make consistent with article linked below.

 

Shop for permethrin spray:

http://www.bing.com/shopping/search?q=permethrin+spray&FORM=HURE

 

Ticks Suck !........HEE HEE....I could not help myself...Sorry about the pun!
Seriously though if they are embedded (biting you) you do not want to
try and pull them off, their head or jaws can be left behind attached to your body.
The classic method is to light a match and quickly blow it out and touch the extinguished
match to their body forcing them to release. You can also use any creams,lotion or oil you
have handy. It smothers them and they release it may take a few minutes though.
I carry a very small container filled with Pro-link in my hydration pack as well as some matches
in a water proof container.

 

Ineffective or Dangerous Methods of Removing Ticks: What Not to Do

Do not use sharp forceps.
Do not crush, puncture, or squeeze the tick's body.
Do not apply substances such as petroleum jelly, gasoline, lidocaine (Xylocaine), etc., to the tick.
Do not apply heat with a match or hot nail.
Do not use a twisting or jerking motion to remove the tick.
Do not handle the tick with bare hands.

 

I have had a run in with ticks twice, both times after riding the weed patch in SC. One was biting me good, pulled him out and ripped him apart. The 2nd I caught crawling around just above the belt line on my stomach. Both were pretty good size. After the bite I was checked for Lyme disease, but was in the clear.

 

Everyone has an opinion, angled forceps and a well lit Dr. office maybe the best way to put money in the Doctors pocket.
I am not buying the whole regurgitation of fluids argument. If you use forceps you are going to have to squeeze the ticks
body thus forcing said fluids into your body. Be sure and get the remaining mouth parts? I would rather not worry about that!
Calling the match method dangerous? Oh please! Since I learned the method in the Boy Scouts some 30 plus years ago
I have employed it dozens of times to myself and others without a mishap .I will continue to do so it works great
the little bastards let go promptly and I have never had an infection. I can only imagine the Doctors thoughts on
the dangers of Mountain biking.
Of course everyone is free to do there tick removal by which ever method they please.
I will continue to use "the dangerous method" because I like living on the edge !

 

How about this from the CDC:

Avoid folklore remedies such as "painting" the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly, or using heat to make the tick detach from the skin. Your goal is to remove the tick as quickly as possible--not waiting for it to detach.

 

I have never had to wait using the match method it is really quick. Granted the smother method is a wait.
I for one do not carry surgical tools when I ride but do carry matches.
Use what ever method you like as I will.
I have a problem with the CDC calling other methods ''Folklore" because that implies something mythical or un-true.
So if you do not have forceps or tweezers but do have matches you should wait ?
I am not saying they are wrong just stating what I would do. I have seen and heard of too many people having
infections from tick body parts left behind after someone used tweezers to pull the tick off.

 

Just grab it and put it out. It ain't brain surgery.

 

Years in the military, vasoline always worked just fine. No clue why it says it's unsafe or dangerous. The Rick can't breath and comes out on it's own.


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