Borne Free

Part Three of Our ‘Summer in the Safe Zone’ Series

Written by: Lauren Cox | Updated: June 27, 2012

It’s hard to enjoy the great outdoors when the notoriously irksome summer insect, the mosquito, will not leave you alone.

Mosquito bites

To prevent mosquito bites, Adelaide Hebert, MD, professor and director of pediatric dermatology at UTHealth Medical School, suggests using an application that contains Picaridin, an insect repellent that has been available without prescription for a few years. Hebert says this key ingredient is effective with a "greater power to repel" pesky insects than repellents containing DEET, an ingredient used in pest control items for about 50 years.

Both the Picaridin and DEET-based repellents are available in a variety of applications, including pump sprays, lotions and towelettes that make regular applications to skin much easier, especially after water activities, rain or heavy perspiration.

Tick Attack

What you need to know to avoid tick-borne disease this summer

Tick encounter rates are soaring, and new reports claim that 2012 is expected to bring higher risks for Lyme disease transmission. Here are five key ways to keep you protected throughout the tick-infested summer months.

Don’t flick the tick! Remove with care

To safely remove attached ticks, first disinfect the area with an alcohol swab. Next, using pointed tweezers, grab the tick "head" as close to the skin as possible and simply pull straight out. Remember to disinfect the bite area again after pulling the tick out. 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 wait for it to detach.

Do a daily tick check

The best time to do a full-body tick check is right after ending outdoor activity or at bath or shower time. Prompt removal of most species of ticks can prevent transmission of tick-borne pathogens. It takes more than 24 hours of attachment for nymphal deer ticks to transmit Lyme disease bacteria, and even longer to transmit Babesia parasites. The tick that carries Rocky Mountain spotted fever is most commonly the American dog tick. If removed within 36 hours, the risk of tick-borne infection is minimal.

Repel ticks with DEET

Use repellents that contain 20 percent or more DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) on the exposed skin for protection that lasts up to several hours. You can also apply DEET to your clothing: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents. DEET-pre-treated clothing is available and remains protective for up to 70 washings.

Identify and avoid tick habitats

Shady, wooded and weedy edges are favorite spots for ticks to hang out. Avoiding tick habitats can be difficult but there are plenty of ways, such as always walking in the middle of maintained trails, to limit tick encounters.

Create a tick-safe zone for your backyard

Pesticides for ticks, known as acaricides, can decrease the number of ticks in your yard, and only a small amount applied during the right time of year is necessary. Below are simple landscaping techniques that can also reduce tick population.

Remove unnecessary leaf litter.
Clear tall grasses and brush around homes and at the edge of lawns.
Place a 3-ft. wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas to restrict tick migration into recreational areas.
Mow the lawn frequently.
Stack wood neatly and in a dry area to discourage tick-infested rodents.
Keep playground equipment, decks and patios away from yard edges and trees.
Discourage unwelcomed animals (such as deer, raccoons and stray dogs) from entering your yard by constructing fences.
Remove old furniture, mattresses or trash from the yard that may give ticks a place to hide.

Visit http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/ for more useful information on ticks.

Bite reactions, including itching, can also be relieved, Hebert says, with over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription medications with hydrocortisone, or by using chilled moisturizers. Additionally, OTC antihistamines can be helpful in relieving painful skin irritations, she says.

Burning of candles containing citronella oil can help in providing a few feet of mosquito-free space outdoors, she says, but should not be used by people wearing loose, easily flammable clothing or around children.

West Nile virus…itching for some new info?

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted to humans, birds, horses and other animals through mosquito bites.

From 1999 to 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 2003 had the most national (9,862) and Texas (720) cases of WNV. Fortunately, the number of cases has significantly decreased over the past several years, but WNV is still something to think about as you make those camping or hiking plans this summer.

In fact, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, recently sampled mosquitoes in Brazoria, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties tested positive for West Nile, even though there have been no reported human cases this year.

Although about 80 percent of cases are asymptomatic in humans, some cases cause West Nile fever or severe West Nile disease. West Nile fever includes flu-like symptoms and skin rash that can last from a few days up to a few weeks.

According to the CDC, less than 1 percent of WNV cases result in meningitis or encephalitis. Symptoms, which require immediate medical attention, include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness and paralysis.

In 2003, there were 2,866 cases of meningitis/encephalitis, with 264 ending in fatality. However, in 2011, there were only 486 cases of meningitis/encephalitis, with 43 deaths, according to the CDC.

“There are a few cases in the region every year, especially in the summer,” says Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner, MD, professor of internal medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at UTHealth Medical School. “Knowing how to prevent mosquito bites is what has stabilized the number of cases.”

There is no cure for West Nile virus and the best defense is prevention. The CDC Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (organisms that transmit infection from one host to another) provides four tips for avoiding mosquito bites:

Wear insect repellant.
Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs.
Install or repair window and door screens.
Support community-based mosquito control programs.

Also, keep in mind that the hours between dusk and dawn are when mosquitoes are the most active. Wear long-sleeves and long pants if the weather permits.