To reduce the risk of illness from a tick bite, you can do three things:
- Taking steps to avoid tick bites
- Inspecting the body for ticks after any exposure
- Remove a tick as soon as possible (see what to do when bitten)
Measures to avoid a tick bite
To avoid a tick bite, it is recommended to:
- Stay on marked paths as much as possible and avoid contact with bushes or tall grass.
- Wear covering clothes (trousers in socks, long sleeves, ...), as well as closed shoes.
- Wear light-coloured clothing, which makes it easier to spot ticks.
- Use a repellent such as DEET on exposed skin.
Being outside, moving around and enjoying nature is good for your health and morale! So make sure you get outside! Since no preventive measure is 100% effective, inspecting the whole body for ticks is still necessary.
Check for tick bites
After contact with nature (garden, park, forest, ...), you should inspect your whole body for ticks, since a tick can be very small. A tick gets under your clothes and moves around on your body. Ask another person to help you inspect difficult places, or use a mirror.
Check especially:
- The head
- Behind the ears
- Underarms
- Belly button
- Groin
- Between the buttocks
- Behind the knee
- Between the toes
Monitor the bite area in the following weeks for redness. Contact your GP if a growing red patch forms around the bite, or if there are signs of flu (fever, muscle or joint pain).