This engorged tick, collected in Annapolis, Maryland is likely a female adult deer tick, or Ixodes scapularis. Deer ticks are also called blacklegged ticks and can transmit the pathogens that cause tickborne diseases such babesiosis and Lyme disease. Credit: NIAID (Photo by: IMAGE POINT FR/NIH/NIAID/BSIP //Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
Recent data from the CDC indicates that tick-borne diseases and related emergency visits in the United States have reached their highest levels in a decade. As people spend more time outdoors, diseases like Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and alpha-gal syndrome are becoming more prevalent and widespread. Here is essential information about tick-borne diseases.
Why Are They On The Rise?
The increase in tick-borne diseases can be attributed to warmer temperatures and milder winters, which allow ticks to thrive in regions that were once too cold. Longer warm seasons mean ticks remain active for extended periods, increasing the chances of human exposure. For instance, rising temperatures have enabled the American dog tick, known for transmitting Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, to persist in higher latitudes like Canada, although it is primarily found in southeastern and south-central America.
Additionally, changes in land use and suburban expansion have increased human exposure to ticks. As communities grow into wooded areas, encounters with deer, mice, and other wildlife that host ticks become more frequent.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the most prevalent tick-borne illness in the United States, affecting nearly half a million people annually. It is caused by Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria, transmitted primarily by the blacklegged deer tick’s bite. The tick must remain attached to a human for 1-2 days to transmit the bacteria and cause symptoms.
Symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, and a distinctive “bull’s-eye” rash. Doxycycline, an antibiotic, is typically used for treatment. If untreated, Lyme disease can lead to facial paralysis, heart rhythm issues, arthritis, and other severe complications.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is another severe tick-borne disease caused by the bacterium Rickettsia Rickettsii, most commonly transmitted by the American dog tick. Symptoms usually begin abruptly with fever, severe headache, muscle pain, nausea, and vomiting. A red rash may develop later but is not present in every case. This disease can quickly become fatal, with up to 25% mortality, according to the CDC. Prompt treatment with doxycycline is critical.
Alpha-Gal Syndrome
Alpha-gal syndrome is a growing concern related to tick bites, particularly from the lone star tick in the U.S. This condition involves an allergic reaction triggered by a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, which the tick introduces into the human body. It can cause allergies to red meat like beef, pork, and lamb, as well as some dairy products and gelatin.
Symptoms vary from mild to severe, including nausea, itching, abdominal pain, lip swelling, and potentially life-threatening reactions like wheezing and difficulty breathing. There is no cure, but avoiding red meat and dairy and using emergency epinephrine for severe reactions is advised.
How To Prevent Tick-Borne Diseases
Preventing exposure to ticks is the best strategy against these diseases. When outdoors in wooded or grassy areas, wearing long sleeves and pants and applying EPA-approved insect repellents with DEET or picaridin can significantly reduce the risk. Treating clothing with permethrin cream adds further protection.
After returning indoors, conduct a full-body tick check, paying close attention to areas like the pubic region, armpits, and base of the neck. If a tick is found, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers. Showering within two hours of coming indoors can help wash away unattached ticks.
As tick populations grow across the U.S., awareness and preventative measures are crucial to mitigating health risks.
