PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this is one of the worst tick seasons in recent years, with more than 229 out of every 100,000 ER visits involving tick bites — up from 167 patients last year — increasing the potential for victims to acquire Lyme disease.
Untreated Lyme disease can cause problems to the nervous and cardiac systems. It can also cause arthritis. That’s why, as we continue to enjoy the outdoors this summer, doctors say it’s important to watch for signs of a tick bite and Lyme infection.
Dr. Jaclyn Rosenzweig, chief of infectious diseases at Abington Hospital, said early Lyme disease may manifest as non-specific symptoms — fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, joint aches, “as well as the classic EM or erythema migrans rash. That’s kind of the bull’s-eye target rash that people talk about.”
In the early stage, Lyme disease can be treated with oral medication. But if it is caught later, intravenous treatment may be necessary, and more severe health problems can arise.
“Some of these later manifestations can occur, and that could present as ongoing systemic symptoms and or things like heart block or Lyme arthritis, which is a swelling and pain of the knee,” she said.
Ticks, like mosquitoes, need to feed on blood. But instead of a quick prick, they are slow feeders, with hooked mouth parts that attach into the skin of deer, rabbits, dogs and people.
A main worry is black-legged ticks, known as Ixodes, a type of deer tick. Ixodes, native to the Northeastern U.S., can carry Lyme disease. If temperatures are right, they can live longer and continue to spread the disease.
How to check for ticks
Ticks are usually found low to the ground, in leaf litter or grassy areas. Check your clothing for ticks and do a full-body check, including under the arms and behind the ears, knees and hair.
If you find one attached, use tweezers to remove the tick and grasp it as close to the skin as possible to pull from the head. If you don’t have them handy, you can also use your fingernails, the edge of a credit card or any semi-sharp object.
How to keep ticks away
The best approach is to minimize tick exposure altogether. Bug sprays containing ingredients such as DEET can be sprayed on exposed skin to ward off ticks and mosquitoes.
Wear long sleeves and pants, and you can also spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin, a chemical similar to a natural ingredient in chrysanthemums that makes ticks avoid the flowers.
Protect your pets from ticks
Don’t forget to pay attention to outdoor pets. Medications can prevent fleas and ticks from attaching to a dog’s skin, but it’s still a good idea to check their fur after being outside.
Dogs and cats roaming outdoors can also bring ticks into the house, where they can live for months until they find their next meal.
What to do after a tick bite
After removing the tick, keep an eye on the skin around the bite. If a rash or flu-like symptoms appear within several days or weeks, see a doctor.
The CDC does not recommend tick testing because results may not be reliable.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.