Colmcille Climbers

Pete Cooper expounds on the subject of ticks (not the type you put in your guidebook after successfully climbing a route).

Following my most recent trip to Lough Barra with Alan and Bill I have had a itchy and, well founded, paranoid week.

Whilst sat up on a grassy belay I noticed a very small tick on my arm, which was promptly ejected from my person and I advised Alan and Bill to check for any ticks too. These little beggers feed off your blood until their too fat to hang on (in dictionaries you may also find this description applied to lawyers and tax men) and in exchange they put you at potential risk of Lymes disease which affects the blood, liver and can be fatal in some cases, so I have to go to my doctor ASAP; just to be safe.

Once home after the Lough Barra trip I have found approximately 12 ticks around the lower half of my body, by Thursday evening Neantog decided it was time for an EXAMINATION; sick of seeing me scratching.

Armed with a high power torch and vaseline she found a few on my legs and one, which was happily feeding head first into my ah erm 'NUT-SACK', (this must be the first time I have not wanted Neantog's attentions in this particular area of my body). To be serious though Neantog is expecting our first child and ticks do represent a danger to health and I advise anybody finding a tick on their body to be visiting their doctor.

Well, there you have it folks. Sound advice indeed from the man from oop north. I'd like to add a few points of my own, if Peter will forgive me:

I think you'll find that the "tick" discovered in the unsunny region is normally called a crab (though you won't see this type dressed in a restaurant fnaar fnaar)
According to my book on the subject, the best way to remove the little blighters is to dab them with chloroform or ether and then press them inwards (to loosen the teeth) before gently pulling them away. If you don't have a volatile solvent, cover the beastie in a pledget of cotton wool soaked in olive oil and leave for a few hours. It goes on to say that ticks discovered on scrotums (scrota?) should be kicked off as they are not ticks but crabs (Phthirus pubis). I'm surprised that Neantog didn't kick it off.
I've been told that Lyme's disease is not prevalent in Ireland. In some parts of America it is endemic and it is also common in Scandinavia. If a tick has been on you for more than 6 hours then take him (the tick), and yourself, to the doc. If an area bitten by a tick shows any signs of coming up in a rash then panic immediately and make sure you get the necessary antibiotics from the GP.
Midge bites are not dangerous unless the midge has been biting ticks and has thereby become infected with Lyme's disease which it passes on to you. If you are bitten by a midge, examine her (only the female bites) for signs of a circular rash, especially on the thighs and armpits. Should the midge show signs of carrying Lyme's disease then you should follow the advice above