Yearly, tick bites affect 1 in 10 people — roughly more than 31 million — in the United States alone. And with a warmer winter and an even hotter summer season, tick numbers have surged this year. Projections indicate tick activity will rise by 15 to 20% across the US this year, with 19 states identified as very high-risk zones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already reported that emergency room (ER) visits for tick bites are higher than usual this year in many parts of the country.
As the world grows warmer each year, ticks are expected to flourish and thrive even more. Hence, it’s crucial to learn about tick-borne diseases and how to stay protected from them.
Top Tick-Borne Diseases to Watch For
Knowing about tick-borne diseases is essential for protecting yourself, your family, and your community from serious and, at times, lifelong and even life-threatening illnesses.
The following are several tick-borne diseases you should watch for:
| Disease | Overview | Symptoms |
| Lyme disease | · Spreads from an infected blacklegged tick bite
· Caused by bacterium Borrelia bugdorferi and Borrelia mayonii |
· Three (3) to 30 days post-tick bite: Fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, erythema migrans (EM) rash, swollen lymph nodes (if there’s no rash)
· Later symptoms (days to months post-tick bite): Severe headache, neck stiffness, additional EM rashes, facial palsy, arthritis, muscle/tendon/joint pain, heart palpitations, nerve pain, shooting pains |
| Rocky Mountain spotted fever | · Potentially life-threatening
· Caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii |
· Two (2) days to two (2) weeks post-tick bite: High fever, headache, lack of appetite, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, light sensitivity, and rash (flat, red/pink/purple in color, or appears as dark dots/splotches and usually starts on the wrists, forearms, or ankles)
· Later symptoms: Confusion, shortness of breath, anxiety, numbness/weakness, seizures |
| Babesiosis | · Spreads from an infected blacklegged tick bite
· Caused by the Babesia parasite · The parasite destroys red blood cells, which can cause life-threatening complications to immunocompromised individuals |
· One (1) to four (4) weeks post-tick bite: High fever, fatigue, chills, sweating, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite, and cough
· This tick-borne disease does not typically cause a rash |
| Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) | · This occurs when an infected tick transfers the alpha-gal molecule in a person’s blood and triggers an allergic reaction
· Symptoms arise when an infected person consumes red meat, dairy, or other products made from mammals · Also referred to as red meat allergy · Potentially life-threatening |
· Two (2) to six (6) hours post-tick bite: Hives, itching, swelling of the lips/face/throat/eyelids, wheezing, shortness of breath, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting |
| Powassan virus infection | · A rare tick-borne illness that can spread to an infected person’s brain and cause encephalitis (brain swelling) | · One (1) week to one (1) month post-tick bite: Fever, headache, vomiting, fatigue, confusion, seizures, difficulty speaking, paralysis |
Other tick-borne diseases can be found on the CDC’s website.
How to Prevent Tick Bites Outdoors
The following are helpful tips to keep ticks at bay when you’re outdoors during the spring and summer seasons:
- Use EPA-registered tick repellents, such as DEET, picaridin, and natural repellents. Apply repellent outdoors and after you’ve put on sunscreen.
- Use Permethrin on clothing, socks, shoes/boots, and outdoor/camping gear. Permethrin, a contact insecticide derived from the chrysanthemum flower, can target an insect’s nervous system upon contact with it.
- Wear light-colored layered clothing. This can help you spot dark-colored ticks more easily. Tuck your shirt into your pants and tuck your pants into your socks.
- Avoid going to grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, where ticks are more commonly found.
- Perform a regular check for ticks while outdoors.
- After going outdoors, remove your clothes and take a shower. Make sure that the clothes you’ve worn outdoors are run in the dryer on high heat.