Introduction to Lyme Disease
Planning an outdoor getaway this summer requires many considerations: navigating rainy weekends, enduring heavy traffic and perhaps worst of all, facing an increasing tick problem. Experts warn there is an unusually high number of ticks in the wilderness this summer, but there are plenty of tips to keep you and your family safe from tick bites and tick-borne illnesses.
Rising Tick Encounters
CDC data shows there have been far more tick-related emergency room visits in the past few months than there were at the same time last year. May and June visits have increased 20% to 30% from last year. Although this year’s numbers are far higher than last year, data shows that tick-related emergency room visits can vary greatly from year to year.
Tick Index
Thomas Daniels of the Fordham University Louis Calder Center, who manages Fordham University’s Tick Index, explained that some years are hot tick years and some aren’t. Now, this happens to be a hot tick year. Daniels’ tick index is a nine out of 10 this week, which indicates high risk of tick exposure in the tri-state area. The tick index is a relative measure, meaning it represents tick-exposure risk compared to past weeks this year.
What to Know
Experts report a rise in ticks and tick encounters this summer, with more tick-related emergency room visits in the past few months than there were at the same time last year. Already-increasing Lyme disease rates nearly doubled post-pandemic, and experts suggest climate change may play a role, as ticks thrive in warm and humid conditions. Ticks that carry Lyme disease are also expanding into new areas as weather patterns change across the U.S. Prevention is key when it comes to tick bites, experts say.
How to Prevent Lyme Disease
CDC data shows that already-increasing Lyme disease rates nearly doubled post-pandemic. Experts suggest climate change may play a role, as ticks thrive in warm and humid conditions that are becoming more common. Ticks that carry Lyme disease are also expanding into new areas as weather patterns change across the U.S. Experts suggest:
- If you are outdoors, stay in the center of trails and avoid wooded and brushy areas.
- Wear long pants and tuck your pants into your socks and your shirt into your pants, to limit ticks’ access to skin.
- To repel ticks, you can use EPA-registered insect repellents and treat your clothes, but not skin, with products containing 0.5% permethrin, or purchase pre-treated clothing.
- When spending time outdoors in high-risk areas for Lyme disease, thoroughly check your body and clothes for ticks.
What to Do if You Are Bitten by a Tick
According to the CDC, a tick usually needs to be attached for more than 24 hours in order to transmit Lyme disease. This means it is important to remove a tick as soon as possible once it has been spotted. To remove a tick, grab the tick with tweezers as close to the skin as possible and pull upward without jerking or twisting. If tweezers are not available, grab the tick with your fingers. Once the tick has been removed, clean the area and wash your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap.
Disposing of Ticks
It is important to properly dispose of the tick once it has been removed. The CDC advises any of the following methods for tick removal:
- Placing the tick in a sealed container
- Wrapping it securely in tape
- Flushing it down the toilet
- Putting the tick in rubbing alcohol
Lyme Disease Symptoms
Lyme disease can present symptoms days or months after you are bitten by an infected tick, according to the CDC. Early symptoms typically show up in three to 30 days and include a rash, often in the shape of a bull’s-eye, fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain and swollen lymph nodes. If Lyme disease goes untreated, symptoms can present days to months after a tick bite. Later signs of Lyme disease include severe headaches, multiple rashes across the body, droop on one or both sides of the face, muscle, joint, tendon and bone pain and other serious symptoms.
How Lyme Disease Spreads
There are two species of ticks in the U.S. that can carry Lyme disease, the black-legged tick, commonly known as the deer tick, and the western black-legged tick. If you are bitten by a tick, experts recommend identifying the species of tick to know whether you are at risk of contracting a tick-borne illness. Adult deer ticks are most prevalent in the spring and fall, while nymphal deer ticks are more common in the summer months. Nymphal ticks especially pose a risk when it comes to Lyme disease, because they are about the size of a poppy seed and difficult to spot.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lyme disease is a serious tick-borne illness that is on the rise in the U.S. With the increasing number of tick encounters and the expansion of ticks into new areas, it is essential to take preventative measures to avoid tick bites. By staying informed and taking the necessary precautions, you can enjoy the outdoors while minimizing your risk of contracting Lyme disease.
FAQs
Q: What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
A: Early symptoms of Lyme disease include a rash, fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, joint pain and swollen lymph nodes. Later signs of Lyme disease include severe headaches, multiple rashes across the body, droop on one or both sides of the face, muscle, joint, tendon and bone pain and other serious symptoms.
Q: How do I prevent Lyme disease?
A: To prevent Lyme disease, stay in the center of trails, avoid wooded and brushy areas, wear long pants and use EPA-registered insect repellents. Thoroughly check your body and clothes for ticks after spending time outdoors.
Q: What should I do if I am bitten by a tick?
A: If you are bitten by a tick, remove it as soon as possible with tweezers, clean the area and wash your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap. Properly dispose of the tick and do a thorough check of your clothes and body for other ticks.
