Guys,

I've just posted this elsewhere on AR but thought I'd copy it here for all you guys coming over to hunt Africa this year and might pick up the odd tick.

The best way to deal with an attached tick that you've located is to take a pair of tweezers and grab the tick firmly under the head end (where he mouthparts are embedded), then carefully push down to disengage the 'teeth' from the skin and gently pull away. If that doesn't work, rock the tick from side to side. Once it's off, apply a little antiseptic ointment to the bite sight.

If you suspect you might have ticks on you, but don't know where, take a shower and subistute your usual soap or shower gel for anti tick and flea dog shampoo and go over every inch of yourself two or three times. - It's actually a good idea to do that every few days when you're in the bush anyway, and again when you get home.

If you find yourself licking your own balls, you're probably overdoing it!

If you're using Doxycycline as an anti malarial, that'll also help, as it's an antibiotic and will help relieve the symptoms of tick bite fever.

quote:

If you find yourself licking your own balls, you're probably overdoing it!

Finally, an accurate diagnosis.

Thanks Shikari!

Thanks Shakari. I've often wonder about the insatiable urge to lick my balls! I'll keep this in mind.

Bwana, How do you bend that low ???? you must be very athletic.

Chapuismarmes - you know, when we start talking African Hunting, people can do some stange things!

Just a note. I have used powdered sulfur for years to keep ticks and chiggers off here in Texas. You should be able to get some at your local feedstore. I put some in an old sock and then with your clothes off gently pat yourself down with it. I usually go up to my armpits. You don't need to make yourself yellow. I use it every bow season whith great effect. I don't know how hard it would be to find while on safari but it really works.

Some Permanone spray on your clothing is so effective you will have no need to lick anything.

Ann,
Now here you go spoiling everything!

Spring must be here - AR is getting back to normal!!!

I go the Permanone route. I've never had them get me, but I've had them crawl on my boots. What surprised me was how quick they located me, and how you don't have to be in heavy brush to get them on you. We were sitting in deck chairs in the middle of the road taking a break, and there they were.

quote:

Originally posted by someoldguy:
If you're bent on killing them, you'll have to crush them between two rocks as they are very tough.

As a boy scout we always threw them on top of the wood stove. The blood boils and they make a very satisfying popping noise. These days I just fire up the propane torch. I seem to have lost patience over the years :-)

There's an article in the latest Sports Afield on Lyme disease stating much of what is said here and also indicating that Lyme disease can be found in Africa and other parts of the world as well. By the way, Bwanna can bend over and lick just about anything. . . .

I heard while living in Wisconsin that state highway workers were putting flea-and-tick collars around their ankles. It's Lyme country up there.
I've heard this works but haven't tried it.

/

Bayticol contains Flumethrim as the active ingredient insecticide. I'm not sure that it is available in the US for veterinary use. It is closely related to Permethrin, the active ingredient in Permanone mentioned by Ann above. When sprayed on clothing it is effective for a week or 10 days easily and up to 6 washings.

Current recommendation for the military is to use permethrin treated clothing and DEET on the skin. DEET is a repellent and permethrin is an insecticide that kills fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, etc.

Recommended removal of ticks is as Shikari stated above, using a tick nipper and make sure to remove mouth parts. Other methods such as nail polish, vaseline, matches etc can cause increased injection of body fluids and risk of infection,

Alf

I agree that Bayticol is an fabulous repellant when sprayed on clothes, but to the best of my knowledge, it's not available outside Africa. - I was talking about removing the ticks once they've gotten on you.

As for spraying Bayticol directly onto the skin, all I can say is you must have skin like a rhino.......... that stuff burns me like hell.

Shakari gave good advice on removing ticks that have already bitten you and injected the itch-causing anti-coagulant - and with it the causative agents of tick-bite fever.

Real important question is: How to prevent ticks getting on you in the first place?

Thak it from me, I've hunted all South African provinces and quite a few other southern African countries over many years, avoid hunting in known tick-infested areas!

Here in the western Free State from where I operate there are virtually no ticks at all! If I go hunting here I do not any more take any precautrion against getting tick-bites. Just not needed! Not a single one of clients guided in this area ever got bitten. Clients who were guided in some parts of Limpopo, despite Bayticol, khakiebos, and a few other measures, including diesel rubbed gaiters got badly bitten.

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

I'm biting my hands and my tongue to avoid to write my malicious comments about licking argument!
but it hurts a lot.

I strongly advise that any person going to a known tick area consult a physician about tick removal.

My understanding is: do not play with the tick with tweezers, alcohol, etc. Use tweezers and immediately pull it out or use an instrument and scrape it off. A real danger from ticks is regurgitation into the wound. Aggrivated ticks do this. This the source of Tick Fever, etc. (yep, I have had it)

Infection caused by leaving the tick's head in the wound may be minor if treated with Neosporin, etc. when compared to the diseases passed along from ticks. Again, contact an infectious disease specialist about tick disease and removal.

Okay, I cannot resist the temptation to post an Aggie joke:

Two Aggies are walking down the street in College Station. They come up on a dog sitting on the sidewalk licking himself. One Aggie turns to the other and says in a heartfelt way, "I sure wish I could do that." The other Aggie looks back at his friend wide-eyed and says, "Are you crazy, that dog would bite the crap out of you."

Sorry for the hijack.

Obviously avoid being bitten in the first palce, but to prevent a tick biting you is extremely difficult. I don't know if there is a correct method of removing a tick that has bitten you, try all of the above, also put baby oil in your bath water. Most importantly be prepared and aware of the problem and possible outcomes. Maybe do some research into ticks and tick bite fever before travelling so hat you know what the situation is.

As for the licking, one positive advantage of taking your wife on Safari!!!

You mean girlfriend, don't you? Wives aren't about to go there after the ceremony. Never after the 1st baby.

Although it seems to be not approved, I use the hot match routine on ticks, and find it effective. The only time it was not was my last visit to RSA. Fried the back end of one multiple times without result. Closer inspection revealed a splinter, not a tick imbedded in my leg. It fooled several onlookers. It was the faint hickory smell that gave it away!

With all due apologizies to and warnings for the women that post on this Forum, that reminds me of another joke:

On their wedding day, the groom is waiting at the alter for his new bride to begin the long walk down the aisle. Standing next to him, his best man notices that the groom has the biggest smile on his face that he has ever seen. The best man whispers to the groom, "Man, you are smiling like a Cheshire cat, what are you so happy about?" The groom leans over and responds, "I am about to marry the girl that gives the best b*** j**s in the world."

About that same time the wedding march begins and the bride starts down the aisle. The bride's maid notices that the bride has a look of perfect contentment and joy on her face and leans forward and asks, "You look so joyful, this must be the happiest day in your life." The bride whispers back, "It is, I just gave my last b*** j**!"

Okay, maybe one more. They have discovered a new food that reduces a woman's sex drive. It's called wedding cake.

quote:

On their wedding day, the groom is waiting at the alter for his new bride to begin the long walk down the aisle. Standing next to him, his best man notices that the groom has the biggest smile on his face that he has ever seen. The best man whispers to the groom, "Man, you are smiling like a Cheshire cat, what are you so happy about?" The groom leans over and responds, "I am about to marry the girl that gives the best b*** j**s in the world."

About that same time the wedding march begins and the bride starts down the aisle. The bride's maid notices that the bride has a look of perfect contentment and joy on her face and leans forward and asks, "You look so joyful, this must be the happiest day in your life." The bride whispers back, "It is, I just gave my last b*** j**!"

Okay, maybe one more. They have discovered a new food that reduces a woman's sex drive. It's called wedding cake.

Mike:

This old 'damyankee" laughed out loud at your post. Anyway, leave it to a Texan to say totally improper things about what was supposed to be a serious discussion! (Before you come after me as a "damyankee", I'll tell you that my mother had some people who settled in Mundy, Texas, north of Waco a few years before "The War". My father and I, convinced Yankees, never missed a chance to tell her an anti-Texas joke. (like Texas is where "you can look the farthest and see less") Sorry, Mike, couldn't resist, as one joker to another!

quote:

Originally posted by shakari:
If you find yourself licking your own balls, you're probably overdoing it!

IF I COULD LICK MY OWN BALLS I WOULD NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE , MUCH LESS GO ON SAFARI.