Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Infections - Prevention

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Other Pesticides. Other tick-killing spray pesticides that have been used include those containing diazinon, chlorpyrifos, and carbaryl. Animal studies have reported severe toxic effects associated with these chemicals. Some of these chemicals are being phased out for home use. Parents should balance the effects of a very negligible risk for a highly treatable infection versus excessive use of possibly harmful chemicals.

Protective Clothing in the Woods

Anyone who walks or camps in the woods during tick season should wear protective clothing, including:

• Light-colored clothing -- makes it easier to spot ticks
• Long-sleeved shirts and long pants with cuffs tucked into shoes or socks
• High boots, preferably rubber boots
• Tick-collars for small dogs -- can be worn around a person's ankles over socks or pants

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Simply washing clothes will not kill ticks. After being outdoors, people should run their clothes through a dryer at high temperature for a half hour. Spraying clothes with solutions containing permethrin (Permanone, Duranon, Permakill) provides additional protection. Keep in mind that these sprays should not be applied to the skin. Clothes should not be retreated with permethrin for 48 hours unless they have been washed after the first application.

Insect Repellent

DEET. Most insect repellents contain the chemical DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), which remains the gold standard of currently available mosquito and tick repellents. DEET has been used for more than 40 years and is safe for most children when used as directed. Comparison studies suggest that DEET preparations are the most effective insect repellents now available.

Concentrations range from 4% to almost 100%. The concentration determines the duration of protection. Most adults and children over 12 years old can use preparations containing a DEET concentration of 20 - 35% (such as Ultrathon), which provides complete protection for an average of 5 hours. (Higher DEET concentrations may be necessary for adults who are in high-risk regions for prolonged periods.)