How to Protect Yourself from Ticks and the Dangerous Diseases They Spread
How to Protect Yourself from Ticks and the Dangerous Diseases They Spread
Experts explain why tick-borne illnesses are increasing in the U.S. and offer tips to prevent bites
Lyme disease, a tick-borne illness caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is on the rise. Tick-borne diseases have been booming in the U.S., with major increases in Lyme in the last two decades. Tick abundance could spike this summer. A large acorn crop in 2021 helped small rodents boom. They are a key host for ticks, which spend a year in their larval stage before molting into nymphs, their most perilous stage. So this could be a big year for ticks.
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The relevant parts:
How Can You Avoid Getting Bit?
In order to avoid tick bites, wear long clothing, stuff your pant legs into your socks and consider treating your clothes with permethrin insecticide to avoid unwanted passengers. Environmental Protection Agency–registered tick repellents, especially those containing DEET, are also effective at keeping the parasites and other bugs away. Avoid obvious tick habitats such as shady brush, even if it’s in your own yard. When you return home, throw your clothes in the dryer and do a thorough check for ticks on your body. Ticks love nooks and crannies, so pay extra attention to damp spots such as your armpits or the backs of your knees. Also check your dogs because dog ticks can carry Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which can also infect humans.
Even with these preventive measures, if you see a tick lodged on you, skip the matches or nail polish and resist the urge to pick it off with your fingers—you’ll only leave the tick’s mouth lodged into the skin. Instead use tweezers and pluck at the site of the bite as close to the skin as possible. If you’re planning to go camping in areas with known high tick counts, carry fine-tip tweezers—they could save your life. The CDC advises to consult your health care provider after noticing a tick bite if you start to experience flulike symptoms such as headache, chills or fever. It’s always best to catch tick-borne illnesses early.
If you're not in the Americas, the Rocky Mointain Fever won't be relevant. But for example, in Europe, Tick Borne Encefalitis (TBE) is a big problem. Information on this and even other countries: