How to Protect a Kid From Catching Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is an infectious disease that is caused by bacteria that is spread by deer ticks. Deer ticks transmit the disease through biting people. Lyme disease symptoms may include a bulls-eye rash, fever, fatigue, headaches and in serious cases, issues with the heart, nervous system and joints.When Lyme disease is caught early, antibiotics are given to treat it.You can protect your kid from catching Lyme disease by following these simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tick repellent
• Lawn pesticide

How to Protect a Kid From Catching Lyme Disease

1. Avoid allowing your kids to play in wooded areas, brush piles or areas with overgrown grass. You can protect your kid against catching Lyme disease by discouraging them from playing in areas where deer ticks make their home.

2. Dress your child in lightly colored clothing that covers their skin. Lightly colored clothing allows parents to easily spot deer ticks. Long sleeve clothing, socks, and long pants can protect your child's skin from deer ticks.

3. Use a tick repellent when outdoors. Repellents with DEET offer good prevention against deer ticks.

4. Use pesticides around your property. If you live in a wooded area, spray a tick fighting pesticide where the grass and woods meet. Spray a few feet into the woods to provide a protective barrier against deer ticks.

Tips & Warnings

• If you find a tick on your child, remove it as soon as you see it. Use tweezers and grasp the tick by the neck, close to your child's skin and firmly pull the tick out of your child's skin.
• Do not use matches to remove a tick. It can burst the tick and contaminate your child's skin with its body contents, potentially spreading Lyme disease.