It’s summer, which means tick season is upon us again. You’re not alone if you dread finding one of the tiny parasites latched onto your ankle or hidden in your dog’s fur.
Ticks need to feed on blood at every stage of their lives to stay alive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They can attach to mammals (humans, dogs, deer, etc.), birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
While there are hundreds of species of ticks worldwide, less than 60 are known to transmit disease to humans. But the ones that can, can spread dangerous conditions like Lyme Disease or the sometimes deadly Rocky Mountain spotted fever. (Ticks feed on animals, like rodents or fawns, that carry the diseases and then can pass them on to humans.)
As tick bites can have serious implications, we spoke to experts on properly handling them this summer. Let’s get into it.
What types of ticks are found in the US, and what diseases can they transmit?
You can find ticks pretty much across the US. You will discover black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks) in the northeast, mid-Atlantic, and north-central US. Deer ticks are the most common spreaders of Lyme disease. Symptoms of Lyme disease include rash, fever, fatigue, and if left untreated, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, heart palpitations and joint pain.
The other most common disease-spreading ticks in the US include the lone star tick, American dog tick, brown dog tick, Gulf Coast tick, Rocky Mountain wood tick, and western black-legged tick.
- The Lone star tick, which resides in the eastern, southeastern, and south-central US, is known to transmit conditions like ehrlichiosis, which can cause fever, joint pain and an upset stomach.
- American dog ticks are primarily found in areas east of the Rocky Mountains and some places on the Pacific Coast. These can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), which can cause fever, aches, and pains, and, if left untreated, is one of the deadliest tick-borne diseases.
- Brown dog ticks are found mainly in the southwestern US and along the US-Mexican border, and Rocky Mountain wood ticks are in the Rocky Mountain States. Both of these can also spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Gulf coast ticks are primarily found along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico and can spread Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, another type of spotted fever.
- Western black-legged ticks are found along the Pacific coast, mainly in Northern California. They can spread diseases, including anaplasmosis, which has symptoms similar to tick-borne conditions like Lyme disease.
How can you prevent tick bites?
Ticks thrive in the summer because they love the heat and humid weather, says Dr. Sarah Park, medical director of medical affairs at Karius, a life sciences company. So you should be extra cautious about prevention during the spring and summer months.
You’re most likely to find ticks in wooded areas or spaces with tall grass. But they are increasingly appearing in spaces you might not expect, says Thomas Mather, Ph.D., entomologist and director at the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Diseases. For instance, you can sometimes find them green spaces in urban areas like Staten Island in New York City.
Anytime you venture into the woods or tall grass, it’s smart to tuck your pants into a pair of thick socks. You can also treat your shoes and clothes with permethrin, an insecticide, to repel ticks. No matter what, if you’ve gone for a hike or been in some green space this summer, it’s best to check your entire body (even spots like your scalp and belly button) for signs of ticks once you head back inside.
What’s the first thing you should do if you find a tick on yourself or a loved one?
If you find a tick on yourself, don’t panic. First, it’s crucial to take a picture of the tick, says Mather. Online platforms, like the University of Rhode Island’s TickSpotters Program, can help identify the species.
Once you snap the photo, remove the tick immediately. While Mather says some ticks can transmit diseases like the very rare Powassan virus (typically found in the northeast and Great Lakes region), in 15 minutes, they usually have to feed for at least 36 to 48 hours to spread Lyme disease. And you’re unlikely to get RMSF if a tick has been attached for less than 20 hours.
You should use a fine-tipped tweezer to pull the tick out via its head, says Mather. If you don’t have the right tweezers or feel uncomfortable removing the tick yourself, an urgent care doctor can typically do it for you.
When should you contact a doctor about a tick bite?
“Just because you get a tick bite or see a tick on you doesn’t mean you should be calling your doctor immediately,” says Park.
If you develop symptoms like fever, rash, or aches and pains within a few weeks of getting a tick bite, the CDC recommends heading to your primary care doctor as soon as you can with as much information as possible.
This information might include a photo of the tick and potential identification (if you have this), how long it was attached, where you think you contracted it, and any other details. (If you can’t get an appointment with your PCP, you can also go straight to urgent care.)
Once they understand your symptoms and where you may have contracted the tick, your doctor will likely conduct lab tests to look for evidence of certain diseases, like Lyme Disease. Antibiotics are the primary treatment for most tick-borne conditions. However, tests for RMSF, for example, don’t offer results quickly enough to get ahead of treatment. If your provider suspects you’ve contracted this, they will prescribe you an antibiotic as soon as possible.
While ticks might seem frightening, they don’t have to ruin your fun this summer. Prevention measures are crucial to avoiding a bite.
“Yes, it’s tick season, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the outdoors,” Park says. “Just about anything these days can be preventable if you take the right measures.”