TICK SAFETY TOOLKIT

THESE TINY CRITTERS CAN POSE A SERIOUS HEALTH RISK - HERE'S HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY

- LARA KILNER

Ticks are so little that they’re tricky to spot, yet they wreak havoc in the summer.

Because of climate change they are on the rise, and getting bitten by these teensy insects, found lurking in grass, can have serious consequences for your health.

Infected ticks can carry a bacterial infection called Lyme disease – and they spread it to humans. It’s a condition that can have similar symptoms to Covid- 19. Public Health England estimates 3,000 people suffer each year, with the true number likely to be higher.

“If a person develops a rash, the diagnosis can be made without a blood test and these cases are not reflected in official figures,” says Julia Knight, community outreach manager for Lyme Disease UK.

“With climate change the tick population is growing, and in some areas ticks are staying active even in winter.”

Celebrities Avril Lavigne, Justin Bieber, Shania Twain, Amy Schumer and Ben Stiller have all had a brush with the infection. Don’t panic, though – it’s a myth that all bites lead to Lyme disease. Public Health England states no more than 10% of ticks have the bacteria that can cause the infection.

Here is the information you need to know…

SIGNS YOU'VE BEEN BITTEN

The main sign to look out for is a red, round, spreading rash called erythema migrans, says Julia. “It can appear three to 30 days after a bite and is known as a bull’s-eye rash, although it can look different on darker skins,” she says.

“Not everybody develops one either, so other signs to look out for are flu-like symptoms, a headache, stiff neck, sore muscles or joints, fever and feeling generally unwell.”