04/13/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/13/2021 12:56
Warmer weather, sunshine, and blooming flowers are all characteristics of springtime that everyone looks forward to after a harsh winter. While we're enjoying the change of seasons, it's easy to forget the more unfavorable issues to consider, such as ticks, especially if you're spending more time outside.
Tick season begins simultaneously with the start of spring but doesn't end until mid-to-late October. This is the time of year that you should be checking for tick bites, as they can transmit Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that ticks carry if they bite infected mice or deer. Infected ticks can then transmit the disease to you through their bite. This disease affects thousands of Pennsylvanians each year and is the most reported infection transmitted by an insect to humans in the United States.
After 24 hours of tick attachment, the risk of getting Lyme disease rises to 15%, and to even higher levels after 48 to 72 hours. If you notice a tick attached to you or a loved one, you will want to remove it as quickly and safely as possible. It's important to know that you should not swat, smash, or squeeze it, as it can accelerate the infection process. Ultimately, it is best if the tick stays intact during removal as Lyme disease rests within its whole system.
A small rash (size of a quarter) may be visible after removal. If the bull's eye or target rash grows from 6 to 30 centimeters, this may be an early indicator of Lyme disease.
If you find a tick on your person, unattached, and while outside, it is safe to just brush it off. If you are indoors, make sure that it is brushed off outdoors or killed so it does not later attach to another person or pet.
If you are bitten, do not panic. You may see the following symptoms days or weeks after a tick has been attached to you for at least 24 hours:
In more severe cases, Lyme disease can cause problems with nerves and thinking. When detected early, the disease can be treated effectively with antibiotics. For best results, seek treatment by a physician who follows guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Infectious Disease Society of America as soon as you show signs of these symptoms.
If you know that you are going to be spending time outside in wooded, overgrown, or grassy areas you should prepare to do the follow to prevent tick bites.