Garlic as a tick repellent.

You can also use a tick repellent containing about 20 percent to 30 percent DEET on clothing and exposed skin, but not the face.

Many Unreported Cases A vaccine is needed, Dr. Kantor said, because tick repellents are not effective enough.

"I know of parents who spray their children with tick repellent every time they go outside," he said.

Had we worn socks and shoes, properly sprayed with tick repellent, when walking on our lawn near the woods, we would have been spared the agony.

Do not use DEET on pets; ask the vet to recommend an appropriate tick repellent and pesticide.

Products by Cutter that never had R-11 include its tick repellent in both maximum strength and stick versions.

Even if you are fully immunized, experts say that the usual anti-tick precautions are needed: cover up and use a tick repellent.

Spray your pants, socks and shoes with a tick repellent, like permethrin, and use Deet on exposed skin.

No Miracle Products Another product is called Permanone, a permethrin-based tick repellent used on clothing by the Army.