Ticks

[jacobusg]

Lots of mentions of bedbugs, nothing on tick bites.

I acquired several bedbug bites about 6 days out from Sarria. About two days out one changed its aspect into what I found out by Google looked like a tickbite with Lymes disease.
On the 26th attended Sarria hospital, doctors prescribed antibiotics, oral doxycycline, and the bitemarks (there were two) started to clear up within 24hrs.
There were no additional symptoms of itching, soreness or swelling.

The antibiotics caused some early daily fatigue compared with previous and did slow me down (no bad thing).

Prevention is the same as for bedbugs,
"use insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing, and carefully check every day for attached ticks. Minimize areas of exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and closed shoes; tucking shirts in and tucking pants into socks may also reduce risk"

Buen Camino

 

[mountaingoat999]

Lots of mentions of bedbugs, nothing on tick bites.

I acquired several bedbug bites about 6 days out from Sarria. About two days out one changed its aspect into what I found out by Google looked like a tickbite with Lymes disease.
On the 26th attended Sarria hospital, doctors prescribed antibiotics, oral doxycycline, and the bitemarks (there were two) started to clear up within 24hrs.
There were no additional symptoms of itching, soreness or swelling.

The antibiotics caused some early daily fatigue compared with previous and did slow me down (no bad thing).

Prevention is the same as for bedbugs,
"use insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing, and carefully check every day for attached ticks. Minimize areas of exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and closed shoes; tucking shirts in and tucking pants into socks may also reduce risk"



Buen Camino

Hi Jacoburg

if you thought it was a tick bite with the marks mentioned below, then you would of had the tick on you for some days......where had you been before, did you start at Sarria. ???
you mentioned you was 6 days out from Sarria ,yet attended Sarria Hospital

I would of been very surprised if it was a tick....unless you was roaming around in the grass along the way were animals had been.
I have had a lot of ticks on me in various places over the years and manged to remove them.

your know when it is a tick...they start out tiny and when on your skin on the way to a suitable place if you touch them they bury there head immediately into your skin..you are better off performing two actions . either use a tick card "see below" and use it properly or wait till it is fully engorged and it will full off.

if you think you have had a tick bite.......and feeling unwell it always important to mention this to medical services....even if it was a little time before hand
if your in a remote place away for a week or so at a time and know your have had a tick attached to you or think you have..a good indicator is a round reddish circle mark as seen in image below.. this can also be a very large circle.........if you see this "don't panic"seek medical attention as soon as possible.....it's not a good idea to remove ticks by ripping the body off ,you could leave the head and intestine inside the skin...

ticks can infect once engorged after they have had there meal from you..use a tick card properly as is the new way..


when ready for a meal will climb a nearby piece of vegetation and wait for a passing animal or human to brush by catching their hooked front legs. The tick will not always bite immediately, but will often spend some time finding a suitable site on your skin.

 

[peregrina2000]

Two summers ago, Spain had a real tick problem. I think the explanation was the very heavy rains in winter, but in any event, it was way above normal. I got a lot of them on the Camino Olvidado in June/July. I always wear long pants and long sleeved shirts and didn't roll in the grass, but got a lot of them anyway.

It was fine as long as Susanna was with me to inspect and pull them out with tweezers, but I was on my own after the first week. I had one in my lower back on the day into Cistierna and one of the pension workers pulled it out for me, but wasn't sure she got it all. The woman in the farmacia told me to get myself to a doctor pronto, and I got it taken care of in La Robla a couple of days later.

I haven't heard anything about ticks on the Camino since then (I remember Kiwi-family had a bad experience with them), so hopefully it's not a problem. I haven't had any before or since that summer, fingers crossed.

 

[jacobusg]

Well, mountaingoat999, perhaps the doctors erred on the safe side so I have no problem with their diagnosis. 6 days out from Sarria was before Sarria, should have been more explicit. I started at SJDPP.
Useful advice if late for me.
I saw no ticks at all, just the aftermath, as others might I'm sure.

 

[TerryB]

. . . . . . . . . . .
your know when it is a tick...they start out tiny and when on your skin on the way to a suitable place if you touch them they bury there head immediately into your skin..you are better off performing two actions . either use a tick card "see below" and use it properly or wait till it is fully engorged and it will full off. . . . . . . . . .
ticks can infect once engorged after they have had there meal from you..use a tick card properly as is the new way.

For anyone reading this, - Medical advice is "remove the tick as soon as possible . . " do NOT wait until falls off! The best way is with a "tick card" as above, or with a "Twister" - http://www.otom.com/how-to-remove-a-tick usually available from veterinary clinics. (I asked our local pharmacy in the U.K. and they did not know what I was talking about - and we live next to Dartmoor!!!!). I now carry the twisters in my backpack and when in tick country check myself every evening. Lyme Disease is not to be trifled with as it can have long term health implications.
Ticks are very easy to pick up, just brushing against bracken or bushes on the trail can be enough. Ladies - be careful when "going bush" to the toilet. And yes, Lyme Disease is endemic in some areas in Spain;- See my post on this thread - https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/ticks.26130/

Blessings
Tio Tel

 

[mountaingoat999]

sometimes if your on your own you can not remove them straight away properly if its in the middle of your back like I had once when camping in Scotland on my own, so its obvious you remove it when you can as soon as possible or if unable too wait till it falls off, your make matters worse if you rip it off incomplete.....no need to make a drama or Panic..

Great if you have somelse with you to check areas. and use a small mirror to check the area hard to see if on your own..

lots of people and pets pick them up daily in the outdoors....I've had far too many to remember.

I carry "smidge" now not long on the market which works for me..because I go to places where there are no paths and brush in and up against areas where ticks are for days at a time.
I don't wait till the evening, Once I've cleared the area I do a quick check..

I know Lyme disease is serious...been in outdoor environments with the military for 30 years picking up ticks and everything else.

Quote..
Smidge is a new type of insect repellent. Most likely originally perceived to deal with the Scottish midges, but - here's some great news - it's effective against ticks too.

It's not deet based, either. Smidge is developed from a 20% Saltidin Milk formulation which provides a broad spectrum effectiveness against many biting insects - worldwide! The Smidge company have added a waterproofing agent to Saltadin that maintains its effectiveness even when water and sweat are present.

It's not sticky or greasy and is safe for adults and children over 30 months old. It has a pleasant fragrance and even moisturises the skin as it repels. And what's more, it's effective for longer than DEET based products.

NOTE : this product has not been tested for effectiveness or safety with pets. It is intended for use on people.

Smidge is an effective insect repellent for midges, ticks, horse flies, mosquitoes and all blood feeding insects.

- See more at: http://www.tickremoval.co.uk/tick_insect_repellent.html#sthash.yvtergE0.dpuf "un quote"

 

[mountaingoat999]

Well, mountaingoat999, perhaps the doctors erred on the safe side so I have no problem with their diagnosis. 6 days out from Sarria was before Sarria, should have been more explicit. I started at SJDPP.
Useful advice if late for me.
I saw no ticks at all, just the aftermath, as others might I'm sure.

you took the right course of action..you say the "doctors diagnosis". which you never mentioned before in the OP......so did they say you had Lyme disease .

I had one tick on the Norte..before I started using "smidge"..
take a dog next time leading from the fornt as tick magnets

 

[jacobusg]

Mountaingoat999 I think that the doctors prescribing the correct form of antibiotic suggests a diagnosis, don't you?

The bites certainly looked characteristic, and absent lengthy and controversial testing procedures generally undertaken after more adverse symptoms manifest, I think it was a good call.

 

[mountaingoat999]

Mountaingoat999 I think that the doctors prescribing the correct form of antibiotic suggests a diagnosis, don't you?

The bites certainly looked characteristic, and absent lengthy and controversial testing procedures generally undertaken after more adverse symptoms manifest, I think it was a good call.

not really they may have treated you just in case anyway "doxycycline" is used to treat many bacterial infections...in remote regions we have carried it.
if the bite looked characteristic then you took the right course of action. I already said this.

PCR test finds out one way or the other
blood test take around a week or two

Thanks

 

[kmrice]

I think that the doctors prescribing the correct form of antibiotic suggests a diagnosis, don't you?

I don't know about Spain but in Virginia (lots of ticks and Lyme disease) physicians will prescribe Doxycycline (sometimes in a relatively high "blast" dosage) when the patient presents with a tick bite. If the tick and patient are tested and the tests come back negative, the patient stops taking it. As I understand it, if the tick is infected, the faster the antibiotic is started, the better.

 

[mountaingoat999]

I have had ticks"thankfully before they have started to bite to begin feeding in my groin area before now"...
I know in areas of the States there have been big outbreaks..

Tick cards have been around for a few years now and available in decent outdoor shops in the UK..I carry one in my wallet.

just found this. recently updated March 2015


Signs and symptoms of Lyme disease
Early symptoms
Many people with early-stage Lyme disease develop a distinctive circular rash at the site of the tick bite, usually around 3 to 30 days after being bitten. This is known as erythema migrans.

The rash is often described as looking like a bull's-eye on a dart board. The affected area of skin will be red and the edges may feel slightly raised.

The size of the rash can vary significantly and it may expand over several days or weeks. Typically it's around 15cm (6 inches) across, but it can be much larger or smaller than this. Some people may develop several rashes in different parts of their body.

However, around one person in every three with Lyme disease won't develop this rash.

Some people with Lyme disease also experience flu-like symptoms in the early stages, such as tiredness (fatigue), muscle pain, joint pain,headaches, a high temperature (fever), chills and neck stiffness.

Later symptoms
More serious symptoms may develop several weeks, months or even years later if Lyme disease is left untreated or is not treated early on. These can include:

• pain and swelling in the joints (inflammatory arthritis)
• problems affecting the nervous system – such as numbness and pain in your limbs, paralysis of your facial muscles, memory problems and difficulty concentrating
• heart problems – such as inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or sac surrounding the heart (pericarditis), heart block and heart failure
• inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) – which can cause a severe headache, a stiff neck and increased sensitivity to light

Some of these problems will get better slowly with treatment, although they can persist if treatment is started late.

A few people with Lyme disease go on to develop long-term symptoms similar to those of fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. This is known as post-infectious Lyme disease. It's not clear exactly why this happens, but it's likely to be related to overactivity of your immune system rather than persistent infection.

When to see your GP
You should see your GP if you develop any of the symptoms described above after being bitten by a tick, or if you think you may have been bitten. Make sure you let your GP know if you've spent time in woodland or heath areas where ticks are known to live.

Diagnosing Lyme disease is often difficult as many of the symptoms are similar to other conditions. A spreading rash some days after a known tick bite should be treated with appropriate antibiotics without waiting for the results of a blood test.

Blood tests can be carried out to confirm the diagnosis after a few weeks, but these can be negative in the early stages of the infection. You may need to be re-tested if Lyme disease is still suspected after a negative test result.

If you have post-infectious Lyme disease or long-lasting symptoms, you may see a specialist in microbiology or infectious diseases. They can arrange for blood samples to be sent to the national reference laboratory run by Public Health England (PHE), where further tests for other tick-borne infections can be carried out.

How you get Lyme disease
If a tick bites an animal carrying the bacteria that cause Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi), the tick can also become infected. The tick can then transfer the bacteria to a human by biting them.

Ticks can be found in any areas with deep or overgrown vegetation where they have access to animals to feed on. They're common in woodland and heath areas, but can also be found in gardens or parks.

Ticks don't jump or fly, but climb on to your clothes or skin if you brush against something they're on. They then bite into the skin and start to feed on your blood.

Generally, you're more likely to become infected if the tick remains attached to your skin for more than 24 hours. But ticks are very small and their bites are not painful, so you may not realise you have one attached to your skin.

Who's at risk and where are ticks found?
People who spend time in woodland or heath areas in the UK and parts of Europe or North America are most at risk of developing Lyme disease.

Most tick bites happen in late spring, early summer and autumn because these are the times of year when most people take part in outdoor activities, such as hiking and camping.

Cases of Lyme disease have been reported throughout the UK, but areas known to have a particularly high population of ticks include:

• Exmoor
• the New Forest and other rural areas of Hampshire
• the South Downs
• parts of Wiltshire and Berkshire
• parts of Surrey and West Sussex
• Thetford Forest in Norfolk
• the Lake District
• the North York Moors
• the Scottish Highlands

It's thought only a small proportion of ticks carry the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, so being bitten doesn't mean you'll definitely be infected. However, it's important to be aware of the risk and seek medical advice if you start to feel unwell.

Treating Lyme disease
If you develop symptoms of Lyme disease, you will normally be given a course of antibiotic tablets, capsules or liquid. Most people will require a two- to four-week course, depending on the stage of the condition.

If you are prescribed antibiotics, it's important you finish the course even if you are feeling better, because this will help ensure all the bacteria are killed.

If your symptoms are particularly severe, you may be referred to a specialist to have antibiotic injections (intravenous antibiotics).

Some of the antibiotics used to treat Lyme disease can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. In these cases, you should avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and not use sunbeds until after you have finished the treatment.

There's currently no clear consensus on the best treatment for post-infectious Lyme disease because the underlying cause is not yet clear. Be wary of internet sites offering alternative diagnostic tests and treatments that may not be supported by scientific evidence.

Preventing Lyme disease
There is currently no vaccine available to prevent Lyme disease. The best way to prevent the condition is to be aware of the risks when you visit areas where ticks are found and to take sensible precautions.

You can reduce the risk of infection by:

• keeping to footpaths and avoiding long grass when out walking
• wearing appropriate clothing in tick-infested areas (a long-sleeved shirt and trousers tucked into your socks)
• wearing light-coloured fabrics that may help you spot a tick on your clothes
• using insect repellent on exposed skin
• inspecting your skin for ticks, particularly at the end of the day, including your head, neck and skin folds (armpits, groin, and waistband) – remove any ticks you find promptly
• checking your children's head and neck areas, including their scalp
• making sure ticks are not brought home on your clothes
• checking that pets do not bring ticks into your home in their fur

How to remove a tick
If you find a tick on your or your child's skin, remove it by gently gripping it as close to the skin as possible, preferably using fine-toothed tweezers. Pull steadily away from the skin without twisting or crushing the tick.

Wash your skin with water and soap afterwards, and apply an antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite.

Don't use a lit cigarette end, a match head or substances such as alcohol or petroleum jelly to force the tick out.

Some veterinary surgeries and pet shops sell inexpensive tick removal devices, which may be useful if you frequently spend time in areas where there are ticks.

 

[Mark Lee]

Used to get the occasional tick hanging off me running around the woods as a kid and the dogs would get them all the time. Never heard of any that bite and leave, like a mosquito or bedbug. They hang on and get bigger and bigger.
Ticks come off of vegetation or grass. They patiently wait for a passing host, be it a dog a deer or a human. I don't think you will find them in albergues, or jumping up on you while walking on an open dirt or gravel road.
Best bet during the summertime Caminos is to stay out of the brush or really high grass, where you could pick-up an unwelcome passenger.

 

[jacobusg]

Mountaingoat999, the NHS website is good, but there are other authoritative US sites which tend to give more technical info if that's what's wanted.

Mark, several sites suggest that the deer tick will fall off once fed. From my experience for the whole camino frances, it isn't possible to completely avoid grass, or brush. Sooner or later there will be exposure, especially if the walker wears shorts and ankle socks. And I wore longs all the time.

 

[mountaingoat999]

Mountaingoat999, the NHS website is good, but there are other authoritative US sites which tend to give more technical info if that's what's wanted.

Mark, several sites suggest that the deer tick will fall off once fed. From my experience for the whole camino frances, it isn't possible to completely avoid grass, or brush. Sooner or later there will be exposure, especially if the walker wears shorts and ankle socks. And I wore longs all the time.

I don't need to know information about ticks..you posted the thread I had my first tick lesson in the early 1980 ...I've had enough lesson from medical advisors on expeds over the years about all sorts of things...Including ticks and part of my ML course we are updated on the latest info to give to groups....

all ticks fall off after they have finally finished feeding.. not all ticks carry the Lyme disease.. they get it from animals.....
regards websites NHS or any other sites in the world, I posted one article as a example. I did not write it....when your out in the outdoors remote or of the trail like I was before going on camino's I've had countless on me....over the years. before tick cards and tweezer were used..it was only until 198o when lyme disease was properly known to be connected to deer ticks........learned that way back when american forces in south Amercia were using our training camp mid 1980...

as far as technically info if is concerned enjoy your reading.
ticks crawl up clothing, wearing shorts just makes it quicker..
using "smidge"for example or dealing with them when you discover them. really..making me itch now.

 

[Patch]

I had a really bad tick attack after putting my pack down on the ground in an affected area - not the camino though. They obviously attached themselves to me via the waist band of my pack as I had a line of them across my stomach - about a dozen. I now minimise the number of times I put my pack down and if I do then I pick the area very carefully. It took a couple of years for the bites to completely heal up but luckily no lasting effects. I also now always walk in long trousers to minimise the risk of both ticks and leeches and check myself carefully every night.

 

[Mark Lee]

Mountaingoat999, the NHS website is good, but there are other authoritative US sites which tend to give more technical info if that's what's wanted.

Mark, several sites suggest that the deer tick will fall off once fed. From my experience for the whole camino frances, it isn't possible to completely avoid grass, or brush. Sooner or later there will be exposure, especially if the walker wears shorts and ankle socks. And I wore longs all the time.

I never allowed the ticks on me to stay that long. My parents always made us check for ticks after coming out of the woods, and sho nuff, sometimes there would be a couple of the little bloodsucking bastards hanging on. From my experience from pulling ones off of dogs, they hang on for weeks sometimes and get as big around as the tip of your thumb (I know, gross huh?). Never heard of any that are happy with a few hours of nourishment from the host. They in there for da long haul.
This thread is gonna scare the you know what outta of prospective pilgrims already scared you know what of the prospect of bedbugs, ha ha.
Three Caminos and never had any problems or real issues with members of our exoskeleton friends save for a few mosquito and horsefly bites.

 

[GettingThere]

We didn't see any sign of ticks on the Camino this Spring, but after we got to Santiago in June we went back to stay with friends in the French Pyrenees, near Bagneres de Bigorre. They had had an absolute explosion of them - ticks everywhere. Our friends who are locals had never seen anything like it - the theory was that it was the mild winter, but no one was really sure. One friend went for a run, briefly through some longish grass, and found six ticks on her back when she got home. The baby was put down on the (short) grass up in the mountains for a few seconds and there was a tick on his clothes. My mother got a tick on her leg standing for a few minutes at the clothes line on the (short) grass. They take them very seriously as Lyme disease is in the area, and check their animals as well as themselves every day. Everyone carried packets of things called Tire-Tique (tick-puller), little plastic implements with one end split and bent to enable it to fit around the tick. They then turn it very slowly and carefully until the tick twists out. Seems to work. They also first douse it with vodka, which is not recommended in any of the instructions I've seen because it can cause the tick to - ahem - expel the contents of its digestive system into you before it is removed, increasing the risk of infection. Seems to help to get it out though, causes a sort of "huh?! whaaa??" reaction in the tick while you then grab it with your Tire-Tique! Not that I'm recommending this non-recommended method, you understand.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Lot of good info for Ticks I will add one more heat a pin up with a lighter, hold it with pliers. Touch the tic with it & watch him scramble out of the skin if you are the one Puting the heat to it. Put it in an ash tray & then torch it. They are very hard to crush. I still have one in a mole on my head from 1970 They last forever, & it gives the barber something to share with the rest of the customers. & you get strangers looking at your mole.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

So, to make this simple, is there lyme disease in Spain, or not? Because not all ticks carry it.

 

[VNwalking]

is there lyme disease in Spain, or not?

Apparently so, from that other thread, though it's not clear on a quick read exactly where.
I walked in the spring this year and last and had no encounters with ticks.

That said, I've had Lyme Disease twice and in neither case was I aware of the tick at all. The first time was a case of not checking ('ignorance is not bliss'!). But by the time I got it a second time I knew better and was checking every day, carefully. But I still missed seeing the little guy (deer tics are not like dog ticks; they're really small). I'm told this is very common.
So. If you get that rash, big or small, go to a doctor and get it treated, pronto. I have 2 friends who did not and now have chronic Lyme--which is an utterly miserable affliction.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Ticks carryong Lyme are arriving in my neck of the woods and my concern is my dogs. When going with them to the US I have to treat them. But re. the camino ... so much for not wearing long pants then!

 

[VNwalking]

Another reason to not bring a dog on the Camino.
Well, I wear a skirt, always; pants are out of the question. So it's just one more thing to be aware of--I had not known there was Lyme in Europe, but it seems now to be a global phenomenon.

 

[mountaingoat999]

So, to make this simple, is there lyme disease in Spain, or not? Because not all ticks carry it.

"computer say's no" according to the LDA lyme disease association please read below....again don''t shoot the messenger.


The LDA provides this information as a starting point for those who want to determine if Lyme disease exists in a particular country. It is not meant to be a scientific declaration of the presence or absence of Lyme. The LDA did not check all countries worldwide nor did it contact country officials for verification. NOTE: Country names may vary with different sources and disease standards may vary in countries.



The countries marked with a + are those where there is evidence of Lyme disease such as infected ticks, infected animals, seropositive human samples, or small numbers of diagnosed cases, but where officials are still reluctant to declare Lyme disease present.


Algeria

Andorra .. I am moving here next year between caminos

Argentina+

Australia

Austria

Belarus

Belgium

Belize

Bolivia+

Brazil

Br.Columbia

Bulgaria


Canada

Chile+

China

Colombia+

Croatia

Cuba+

Cyprus

Czech Rp.

Denmark

Egypt+

England


Estonia

Finland

France

Georgia

Greece

Germany

Herzegovina

Honduras+

Hungary

Iceland

India

Iran


Iraq

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

Kazakhstan

Kenya

Korea Dem.

Korea Rep.

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania


Luxembourg

Macedonia

Mali

Malta

Mauritania

Mexico

Moldova

Mongolia+

Montenegro

Morocco

Mozambique

Netherlands


Norway

Peru

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Russia

Scotland

Senegal

Serbia

Siberia

Slovakia

Slovenia


Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

Tajikistan

Tunisia

Turkey

Ukraine

Uruguay

Uzbekistan

Venezuela

Wales

 

[MTtoCamino]

Apparently so, from that other thread, though it's not clear on a quick read exactly where.
I walked in the spring this year and last and had no encounters with ticks.

That said, I've had Lyme Disease twice and in neither case was I aware of the tick at all. The first time was a case of not checking ('ignorance is not bliss'!). But by the time I got it a second time I knew better and was checking every day, carefully. But I still missed seeing the little guy (deer tics are not like dog ticks; they're really small). I'm told this is very common.
So. If you get that rash, big or small, go to a doctor and get it treated, pronto. I have 2 friends who did not and now have chronic Lyme--which is an utterly miserable affliction.

I agree with taking them seriously, but as you explained people not use to tics or knowing they exist are the ones finding out the hard way. Loggers before chemicals use to simply tuck their pants into their boot to keep them outside the clothing. As you can see them crawling up a leg sometimes. The pictures that are shared are good. Usually when my wife & I hike spring to summer we will find them & we usually only find them when we look for them. If you get a bad hatch it is not uncommon to find 5-6 or more depending how long you are out walking. If they get buried in an ear canal that is the hardest so a hot needle works the best to back them out. We have Rocky Mountain disease, besides Lyme, & they just discovered a new disease this summer from a tic most of us didn't know existed. But I think Lymes is the only one in Europe.

 

[mountaingoat999]

Mtcamino

you have lyme over there...

• Fast Facts

1. In 2014, 96% of confirmed Lyme disease cases were reported from 14 states:
   • Connecticut
   • Delaware
   • Maine
   • Maryland
   • Massachusetts
   • Minnesota
   • New Hampshire
   • New Jersey
   • New York
   • Pennsylvania
   • Rhode Island
   • Vermont
   • Virginia
   • Wisconsin
   Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vectorborne illness in the United States. In 2014, it was the fifth most commonNationally Notifiable disease. However this disease does not occur nationwide and is concentrated heavily in the northeast and upper Midwest.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Mtcamino

you have lyme over there...

• Fast Facts

1. In 2014, 96% of confirmed Lyme disease cases were reported from 14 states:
   • Connecticut
   • Delaware
   • Maine
   • Maryland
   • Massachusetts
   • Minnesota
   • New Hampshire
   • New Jersey
   • New York
   • Pennsylvania
   • Rhode Island
   • Vermont
   • Virginia
   • Wisconsin
   Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vectorborne illness in the United States. In 2014, it was the fifth most commonNationally Notifiable disease. However this disease does not occur nationwide and is concentrated heavily in the northeast and upper Midwest.

You are an encyclopedia.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

@mountaingoat999 , sorry to say your list is incorrect as there is now Lyme Disease in Canada. Any other sources regarding Spain that may be more reliable?

 

[GettingThere]

So, to make this simple, is there lyme disease in Spain, or not? Because not all ticks carry it.

The European Centre for Disease Control and prevention has some useful maps and infographics showing distribution of the tick species that carry Lyme disease - in Europe this seems to be mainly the species Ixodes ricinus (note there are different species which carry Lyme in North America). This page shows broad distribution of a couple of disease-carrying tick species (don't look at the other things they might be carrying!). And this page has maps showing distribution of different species - to see Ixodes ricinus select it from the drop-down under "Select vector species". Basically it's pretty much everywhere you might be on a Camino in Spain. Note that this is distribution of the tick and not the disease, but they state quite clearly that this species carries a number of diseases including Lyme, so the implication seems to be that where Ixodes ricinus goes, there goes Lyme. There's more on the ECDC website than you ever wanted to know on ixodes ricinus and a bit more on Lyme disease.

 

[MTtoCamino]

The European Centre for Disease Control and prevention has some useful maps and infographics showing distribution of the tick species that carry Lyme disease - in Europe this seems to be mainly the species Ixodes ricinus (note there are different species which carry Lyme in North America). This page shows broad distribution of a couple of disease-carrying tick species (don't look at the other things they might be carrying!). And this page has maps showing distribution of different species - to see Ixodes ricinus select it from the drop-down under "Select vector species". Basically it's pretty much everywhere you might be on a Camino in Spain. Note that this is distribution of the tick and not the disease, but they state quite clearly that this species carries a number of diseases including Lyme, so the implication seems to be that where Ixodes ricinus goes, there goes Lyme. There's more on the ECDC website than you ever wanted to know on ixodes ricinus and a bit more on Lyme disease.

Very well done

 

[Anemone del Camino]

@GettingThere , thank you for that very interesting map. Clearly ticks love the northern Caminos as much as we do. Yikes!

 

[mountaingoat999]

Anemone del Camino

The list is not mind I never wrote it

interestingly

its usually the female adult (hard tick) is the one causing the bites as, males usually die after mating (so that's usually)..
same with midges female does all the bites.

 

[Lachance]

Used to ticks here in Oz so it will feel just like home. But hope the funnelwebs haven't started doing caminos.

 

[TerryB]

The European Centre for Disease Control and prevention has some useful maps and infographics showing distribution of the tick species that carry Lyme disease - in Europe this seems to be mainly the species Ixodes ricinus (note there are different species which carry Lyme in North America). This page shows broad distribution of a couple of disease-carrying tick species (don't look at the other things they might be carrying!). And this page has maps showing distribution of different species - to see Ixodes ricinus select it from the drop-down under "Select vector species". Basically it's pretty much everywhere you might be on a Camino in Spain. Note that this is distribution of the tick and not the disease, but they state quite clearly that this species carries a number of diseases including Lyme, so the implication seems to be that where Ixodes ricinus goes, there goes Lyme. There's more on the ECDC website than you ever wanted to know on ixodes ricinus and a bit more on Lyme disease.

If you are into reading scientific papers, here is the link to the WHO (World Health Organisation) paper on Lyme Disease. La Rioja is the area in Spain with a high incidence. - http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/96819/E89522.pdf

Blessings
Tio Tel

 

[jacobusg]

I thought I'd post a photo of the bite site, taken the day before I attended hospital in Sarria. A smaller one on my left ankle was about half the size.
Reading the WHO report I think I was fortunate to have developed the rash.

 

[mountaingoat999]

not in all cases does the bite site appears as in most cases. sometimes its a blotch
like I said twice before you took the correct course of action, did you bring any bed bugs home..
in your OP you said it was a bedbug bite / and one changed its aspect into etc

looked like a tickbite with lymes diesease ...
you can see the confusion..

"quote"
I acquired several bedbug bites about 6 days out from Sarria. About two days out one changed its aspect into what I found out by Google looked like a tickbite with Lymes disease.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Anemone del Camino

The list is not mind I never wrote it

interestingly

its usually the female adult (hard tick) is the one causing the bites as, males usually die after mating (so that's usually)..
same with midges female does all the bites.

If you didn't post it then this forum has an IT glitch because the list that does not include Canada appears as if it it coming from you.

 

[mountaingoat999]

If you didn't post it then this forum has an IT glitch because the list that does not include Canada appears as if it it coming from you.

Anemone del Camino

It was my post, I never said otherwise .copy and pasted... I said the list is not mind I never wrote it" I added along side Andorra "I am moving here between camino's if that what made you think otherwise. depending which post you mean

the other list "fast facts" are from the USA. again copied and pasted. like the images in post two .again copied and posted to show the masses. post 11 same deal. after line 4.

while we are here permethrin kills ticks just read it. from the center for disease control. from a USA site....

I like this clarifying post contents....

Thanks

 

[jacobusg]

mountaingoat999, I think the key thing is that initially I had no idea that I had been bitten by a tick, and that does not seem to be that unusual. I thought all the marks I had were from bedbugs, and I'd like to emphasise the fact from the WHO report that the bullseye doesn't always appear. The advice to check regularly for ticks isn't generally part of the prep, bedbugs being, seemingly, the major concern.

I haven't brought any bedbugs back, and I assume I didn't transfer any either. I wore a Nosilife shirt all the way, and one in the pack, and I think that provided some deterrent. Didn't have Nosilife trousers, probably why only my lower legs were affected.

 

[mountaingoat999]

mountaingoat999, I think the key thing is that initially I had no idea that I had been bitten by a tick, and that does not seem to be that unusual. I thought all the marks I had were from bedbugs, and I'd like to emphasise the fact from the WHO report that the bullseye doesn't always appear. The advice to check regularly for ticks isn't generally part of the prep, bedbugs being, seemingly, the major concern.

I haven't brought any bedbugs back, and I assume I didn't transfer any either. I wore a Nosilife shirt all the way, and one in the pack, and I think that provided some deterrent. Didn't have Nosilife trousers, probably why only my lower legs were affected.

Hi Jacobusg

I had really bad bed bug bites on my first camino, needed to go to the medical centre . there were a lot....now if I don't camp.....I take a polycotton sheet and pillow case. wash and dry it......spray it with permethrin. once dry pack away and on camino use in albergues...no problems now. also I overdose my rucksack in permethrin..to protect my pack.

for my face and hands in to deter everything I use smidge. natural product

I am forever picking up ticks in highland countries....so use "smidge " (no bedbugs in the wilds)..its interesting you decide to look online because most people might have assumed it was a bite from something else....they are rare people who midges.ticks .bedbugs don't seem to bother........I know my mate does not get any midge bites even when swarms of them are flying around..

I wear shorts myself and if bashing through an area of ferns I find a suitable spot and check everywhere...getting ride of any crawling on me.then do a check once at camp or hut etc.

the first time I came across ticks was when I discovered one almost fully enlarged on the middle of my back....then after that I usually see them when they are tiny ..if you look careful in wild places you may see them on grass stems.....Scotland has a lot of ticks .......they used to burn the heather years ago and colder winter, now warmer weather all year and heather is no longer burned.

if your every visiting Scotland ..try not too in August..worse time for midges and ticks.on the west of Scotland...and if you do go ask me first for the best of trail places to go

 

[dougfitz]

for my face and hands in to deter everything I use smidge. natural product

Rubbish. The active ingredient in Smidge is listed as Saltadin, a trade name for icaridin or picariden. This is compound developed by Bayer and released onto the market early this centrury. It appears to be a good alternative to DEET, but does need to be used in relatively high concentrations to be effective. Smidge is a 20% solution, but even that will need to be re-applied every couple of hours or so to maintain its effectiveness. It is certainly not a natural product.

 

[mountaingoat999]

Rubbish. The active ingredient in Smidge is listed as Saltadin, a trade name for icaridin or picariden. This is compound developed by Bayer and released onto the market early this centrury. It appears to be a good alternative to DEET, but does need to be used in relatively high concentrations to be effective. Smidge is a 20% solution, but even that will need to be re-applied every couple of hours or so to maintain its effectiveness. It is certainly not a natural product.

dear victor meldrew

read on and if you need to keep arguing with someone please do it with some one else.or argue with the manufactures of smidge .a product you have never used

smidge works and you do not need to re-apply as you state......you seem to love disagreeing with everything and everyone
I have two pints of what ever it is your drinking .

Home » Smidge » Here
Smidge Testimonials
Just a selection of the feedback we have received:

“Due to the heat in the theatre, we had to keep the outside doors to the dressing rooms open and the air was thick with Midges as a result. The cast relied on me spraying them with Smidge to keep them bite free. I kept them all sprayed and we really saw the repellent power of the product at work. Thanks APS for making such a difference to our comfort and to Bay News, Whiting Bay for bringing the product to Arran!”

Mr Alan Kelly, Senior History Teacher, Arran High School

“Hi. just to advise that the Smidge arrived safely on Thursday and was a great success!! The midges are high at present and despite being “out and about” for 12-14hours per day, I can honestly say that I think we got 2 bites behind us!! (Fantastic stuff!). Many thanks”

Campbell Craig, Glasgow

“I used to use Avon [Skin so Soft] but having used Smidge I have never looked back.”

Shona, Co-op, Portree, Isle of Skye, July 2010


Home » Smidge » Here
About Smidge
Smidge comes in a practical, robust and lightweight 75ml Aluminium pump spray. Thanks to its novel, water and sweat resisting formula it provides powerful, immediate protection for up to 8 hours without re-application. Smidge can be purchased from the Smidge Store.

 

[dougfitz]

@mountaingoat999, merely repeating the advertising that the company wants you to believe is no replacement for providing facts. See here for the information about the active ingredient (which cannot be found on the maker's site) and here for some general information on icaridin.

ps I'm sorry you don't like being disagreed with. I don't like seeing patently incorrect information being provided in posts.

 

[mountaingoat999]

@mountaingoat999, merely repeating the advertising that the company wants you to believe is no replacement for providing facts. See here for the information about the active ingredient (which cannot be found on the maker's site) and here for some general information on icaridin.

ps I'm sorry you don't like being disagreed with. I don't like seeing patently incorrect information being provided in posts.

mind reader now......who said I don't like being disagreed with...

I buy it,used it several times now......it safer than Deet and it works...and I was told it was natural....by those who sold it to me and many like me have been informed the same.
I can very happily canter back and forwards all day long ..

quote
(which cannot be found on the makers site)

her are the facts from what I know when I use it ....its works ,you may have to re-apply 7-8 hours later..if walking and sweating hard......some midges and flying insects may come very near me but I have not had any bites..since using "smidge"

if it never worked I would say so.....

in my world when I buy a product and it states whatever it does and does this according to the advert I do not then need to go and question it further....

Have a nice day

p.s if you want some "smidge I can send you some free of charge"..

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Anemone del Camino

It was my post, I never said otherwise .copy and pasted... I said the list is not mind I never wrote it" I added along side Andorra "I am moving here between camino's if that what made you think otherwise. depending which post you mean

the other list "fast facts" are from the USA. again copied and pasted. like the images in post two .again copied and posted to show the masses. post 11 same deal. after line 4.

while we are here permethrin kills ticks just read it. from the center for disease control. from a USA site....

I like this clarifying post contents....

Thanks

If you were happy to quote some one else's thoughts or beleifs without saying you did not agree or were just ciputting and pasting while ignorant of the issu you are endorsing what you are posting. And I mean the
Ost listing all sorts of countries, the one that says there in spno lyme in Canada. If you din't know if something you are posting is correct, please don't post.

 

[mountaingoat999]

If you were happy to quote some one else's thoughts or beleifs without saying you did not agree or were just ciputting and pasting while ignorant of the issu you are endorsing what you are posting. And I mean the
Ost listing all sorts of countries, the one that says there in spno lyme in Canada. If you din't know if something you are posting is correct, please don't post.

so I go a verify everything written on the internet.....that can be updated from time to time .

can you verify what "issu" means and Ost along with ciputting.. can not seem to find a translation on google

 

[VNwalking]

Cutting through the cross-talk...here are links for those who simply want current reliable and non-commercial information about both lyme disease and repellents.

General current information about Lyme Disease [US Centers for Disease Control]: http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/
General current information about Lyme occurrence internationally [US Centers for Disease Control]: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/lyme-disease
Also what Tio Tel posted above:

here is the link to the WHO (World Health Organisation) paper on Lyme Disease. - http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/96819/E89522.pdf

Insect repellents Use and Effectiveness [US EPA]: http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/
Insect Repellent Use & Safety [US Centers for Disease Control]: http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html

Hope this helps.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

so I go a verify everything written on the internet.....that can be updated from time to time .

can you verify what "issu" means and Ost along with ciputting.. can not seem to find a translation on google

Please do before pontificating about things you are just cutting and pasting while havin no 1st knowledge about ang leading readers in the wrong direction while I have better things to do than try to teach this Ipad to detect 3 languages to do proper spell check and not sutocorrect anyway it feels like. And please refrain yoirself from writing to me privately, those messages are not welcomed.

 

[GettingThere]

Cutting through the cross-talk...here are links for those who simply want current reliable and non-commercial information about both lyme disease and repellents.

General current information about Lyme Disease [US Centers for Disease Control]: http://www.cdc.gov/lyme/
General current information about Lyme occurrence internationally [US Centers for Disease Control]: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/lyme-disease
Also what Tio Tel posted above:


Insect repellents Use and Effectiveness [US EPA]: http://cfpub.epa.gov/oppref/insect/
Insect Repellent Use & Safety [US Centers for Disease Control]: http://www.cdc.gov/westnile/faq/repellent.html

Hope this helps.

Thanks Viranani, these are very helpful links.

Of course, any discussion of incidence and distribution is always going to be a bit vague and general, because Lyme is a notifiable disease in very few countries, so health professionals treating it (eg in Spain) are mostly not required to report it. I think the US may be the only country where it is officially notifiable, but may be wrong. It's definitely not notifiable in Spain.

 

[VNwalking]

And I might add from experience--if you come down with a rash for flu-like symptoms, do not assume that your doctor is familiar with Lyme. Particularly if you are home after a trip and there is no Lyme where you live. Or in an area (like Spain) where it is not so common. A heads-up about what you suspect is a good idea.

 

[mountaingoat999]

Please do before pontificating about things you are just cutting and pasting while havin no 1st knowledge about ang leading readers in the wrong direction while I have better things to do than try to teach this Ipad to detect 3 languages to do proper spell check and not sutocorrect anyway it feels like. And please refrain yoirself from writing to me privately, those messages are not welcomed.

I do have first hand knowledge, I sent you one pm asking you not to dictate what to post. not messages,still difficult to understand a some of the words in your post..

you copied links to web address same as me .some are older than others .same as yours..

 

[grayland]

No one should be surprised that this thread is closed.
Some posters have received warning points...which should also not be a surprise.