Ticks

Ticks inject a toxin that may cause local irritation or a mild allergic reaction, however most tick bites cause little or no symptoms. In some cases however ticks can pose a serious threat to human health. Tick borne diseases like tick paralysis and severe allergic reactions, while uncommon, can pose a serious health threat. Tick-borne diseases occurring in Australia are Australian Tick Typhus or ‘Spotted Fever’ (along the coastal strip of eastern Australia from North Queensland to Victoria) and ‘Flinders Island Spotted Fever’ (in Victoria, Tasmania and Flinders Island in Bass Strait). Early symptoms of tick paralysis can include rashes, headache, fever, flu like symptoms, tenderness of lymph nodes, unsteady gait, intolerance to bright light, increased weakness of the limbs and partial facial paralysis. At the site of the bite there may be a black scab or eschar. As the tick engorges on more human blood the tick paralysis symptoms may intensify including after the tick has been removed. Clinical diagnosis is confirmed by specific blood tests.
Tick typhus is treatable with antibiotics, although fatalities have been known to occur. In some susceptible people tick bite may cause a severe allergic reaction or anaphylactic shock, which can be life threatening. If swelling of the face and throat causes breathing difficulties, seek urgent medical attention.
Recently a new syndrome known as “tick-induced mammalian meat allergy” has been described, whereby people bitten by the paralysis tick, which is found in coastal Eastern Australia, can subsequently develop an anaphylactic reaction to consuming meats and animal by-products such as gelatine. This syndrome has also been described overseas.

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium and has become the most common tick borne disease in the world. While there is little evidence that Lyme disease is caused by Australian ticks, there may be other germs carried by Australian ticks which can cause an infection similar to Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is more likely to affect travellers when participating in outdoor activities in tick-infested areas where Lyme disease is known to occur. Lyme disease causes a range of non-specific symptoms including fever, fatigue, headaches, myalgia, arthralgia, muscle and joint pain and sore and swollen lymph glands. These symptoms can occur within days, weeks or months of being bitten. A characteristic skin lesion, erythema migrans, may also appear within 3 to 30 days at the site of the tick bite. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics.
Further information on lyme disease can be accessed at the NSW Health Lyme Disease Factsheet.

Remove a tick as soon as possible after locating it. Use fine pointed tweezers and grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible. Gently pull the tick straight out with steady pressure. Avoid squeezing the body of the tick during removal. If you have difficulties seek medical attention.
Ticks may also be sprayed with an aerosol insect repellent containing pyrethrin or a pyrethroid chemical, although there is currently no evidence to suggest that this is of any benefit. Permethrin based creams may also be used.
Do not try to kill the tick with methylated spirits or any other chemicals. This will cause the tick to inject more toxins.
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) has recently recommended killing an adult tick in place by using an ether-containing spray. These products are normally used for the treatment of warts and skin tags.
NSW Health does not recommend this method until evidence-based research becomes available.
Note: In individuals with a history of allergic reactions to tick bites, ticks should be removed as soon as possible, but only by a doctor and where resuscitation facilities are readily available.

Wear appropriate clothing when outdoors in tick areas including long sleeved shirts, long pants tucked into socks and a wide brimmed hat. Ticks are more easily detected on light coloured clothing. Spray clothes and hats with an insect repellent and wear a repellent that contains DEET or Picaridin.
Clothing treated with permethrin is also recommended. Permethrin wash kits for treating clothes can be obtained from outdoor recreational stores and it is important to follow the label directions. Permethrin-treated clothing is considered one of the effective means of preventing tick bite in tick infested areas.
All clothing should be removed on return from a known tick infested area and placed into a hot dryer for 20 minutes to kill any tick that could still be on the clothing. In addition, the body should be searched for ticks especially behind the ears, on the back of the head, groin, armpits and back of knees. Don’t forget to check children and pets. Many dogs are infested each year and can often die from tick paralysis. Mow grass in the backyard and keep mulch and leaf litter away from the main entrance to the house. Trim shrubs overhanging paths and play areas.