Tick-borne Infections

The ticks responsible for the majority of tick-borne diseases in humans are the black legged deer tick, American dog tick and the lone star tick. These species are found primarily in the Northeastern and upper Midwest regions of the United States, and may transmit several different diseases.

Black Legged Deer Tick Black Legged Deer Tick
Transmits:

• Lyme disease
• Anaplasmosis
• Babesiosis
• Powassan

American Dog Tick American Dog Tick
Transmits:

• Tularemia
• Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Lonestar Tick Lone Star Tick
Transmits:

• Ehrlichoisis
• Tularemia
• STARI

The tick life cycle generally lasts two years. During this time, they go through four life stages: egg, six-legged larva, eight-legged nymph, and adult. The nymphs are most active in early spring and are the size of a poppy seed. They can still transmit disease if they bite, so it is important to be vigilant with daily full body tick checks.

Follow the “ABCs” of tick bite prevention.

A: Avoid ticks
Ticks live in tall grass, bushy thick wooded areas, in leaf piles and along stone walls. Walk in the center of well marked trails. Ticks hold their upper pair of legs outstretched, waiting to climb onto a passing host. When a host brushes the spot where a tick is waiting, it quickly climbs aboard. It then finds a suitable place to bite its host.

B: Bug spray
Use insect repellent that contains 20%-30% DEET. Apply as directed and avoid eyes or mouth. Assist children with applying insect repellent. Treat your clothing, tents and other camping gear with permethrin. Be sure to follow instructions from the manufacturer.

C: Check yourself
Perform a daily full body tick check. Remember that nymphs are very small and may be very hard to see. Be sure to check your scalp, ears, under your arms, waist line, and groin area, behind your knees and your ankles. Check your children and your pets every day after they have been outdoors.

D: Dress to repel
Wear light-colored clothing (so you can see the ticks and remove them). Wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants. Tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants.

For more information on preventing tick bites on your pets visit this page on the CDC website.

Remove ticks as soon as possible to reduce your risk of getting infected with Lyme disease or other tick-borne illnesses.

1. Using a pair of fine tipped tweezers, grasp tick near the mouth parts, as close to skin as possible.
2. Pull tick in a steady, upward motion, away from skin. Avoid twisting, jerking, or squeezing the tick.
3. Disinfect site with soap and water, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

Do not use kerosene, matches, or petroleum jelly to remove ticks.

Video: How to Remove a Tick

(NYSDOH, 2 minutes)

May not play in all browsers.

More videos about tick prevention from the NYSDOH.

People who have removed a tick often wonder if they should have it tested. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that the testing of individual ticks is not useful because:

• The testing of ticks for the presence of the bacteria that causes Lyme disease has no role in the clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease.
• If the test shows the tick contained disease-causing organisms, that does not necessarily mean that you have been infected.
• If someone has been infected by a tick bite, symptoms may begin to occur even before the results of tick testing are available. People should not to wait for tick testing results before seeking medical advice should any symptoms develop.
• Negative results can lead to false assurance. For example, you may have been unknowingly bitten by a different tick that was infected.
• Tests performed on the ticks are not perfect and they do not test for all infections ticks may be carrying. Therefore, even with a negative result, people should still monitor themselves for the appearance of rash, fever or other unusual symptoms and immediately seek the advice of a health care provider should any symptoms occur.
• A positive test on a tick is not an automatic indication that treatment is needed. A positive test indicates that the tick was infected but not that the tick was successful in spreading the infection to the person bitten. The longer a tick is attached to you, the greater the chance that it will spread infection.

• If you are unable to remove all the mouthpieces, they should fall out on their own.
• If you are concerned about the attachment site, contact your health care provider.
• If you experience fever, chills, body aches and pains, flu like symptoms, facial paralysis or rash after being outdoors, contact your health care provider.
• Most tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease, can be successfully treated with antibiotics especially if treatment is started early.

“Once Upon a Lyme” video, from Kaitlyn Guay

“Get Tickless” video, from Kaitlyn Guay

From “Don’t Get Ticked” — NYS Integrated Pest Management, Cornell Univ.

Lyme disease can affect people of any age. People who spend time outdoors in activities such as camping, hiking, golfing, or working or playing in grassy and wooded environments are at increased risk of exposure. The chances of being bitten by a deer tick are greater during times of the year when ticks are most active. Ticks can be active any time the temperature is above 45° F. Young deer ticks, called nymphs, are active from mid-May to mid-August and are about the size of poppy seeds. Adult ticks are most active from March to mid-May and from mid-August to November and are about the size of sesame seeds. Both nymphs and adults can spread Lyme disease. Infected deer ticks can be found throughout New York State.

Not all deer ticks are infected with the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Ticks can become infected if they feed on animals such as mice and other mammals that are infected. The disease can be spread when an infected tick bites a person and stays attached for a period of time. In general, the tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours or more. Lyme disease does not spread from one person to another. Transfer of the bacteria from an infected pregnant woman to her fetus is extremely rare.

Early symptoms usually appear within 3 to 30 days after the bite of an infected tick. In 60-80 percent of cases, a circular bull's eye rash about two inches in diameter, called erythema migrans, appears and expands around or near the site of the tick bite. Sometimes, multiple rash sites appear. One or more of the following symptoms usually mark the early stage of Lyme disease: chills and fever, headache, fatigue, stiff neck, muscle and/or joint pain, and swollen glands. If Lyme disease is unrecognized or untreated in the early stage, more severe symptoms may occur. As the disease progresses, severe fatigue, a stiff aching neck, and tingling or numbness in the arms and legs, or facial paralysis can occur. The most severe symptoms of Lyme disease may not appear until weeks, months or years after the tick bite. These can include severe headaches, painful arthritis, swelling of the joints, and heart and central nervous system problems.

Symptoms and possible tick bite exposure may cause a health care provider to suspect Lyme disease. If suspected, lab tests can be performed to confirm diagnosis.

Patients treated with antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually recover quickly and completely. Antibiotics commonly used for treatment include doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. Patients with certain neurologic or cardiac forms of illness may require additional treatment. It is important to speak with your health care provider if you think you might have Lyme disease. The best treatment for Lyme disease is prevention and awareness.

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection. Even if successfully treated, a person may become re-infected if bitten later by another infected tick.

The best prevention of Lyme disease is through awareness. Generally, ticks cannot jump or fly onto a person. They wait in vegetation and cling to animals and humans when they brush by. When in a potentially tick-infested habitat (wooded and grassy areas) take special care to prevent tick bites, such as wearing light-colored clothing (for easy tick discovery) and tucking pants into socks and shirt into pants. Check after every 2 to 3 hours of outdoor activity for ticks on clothing or skin. Brush off any ticks on clothing or skin before skin attachment occurs. A thorough check of body surfaces for attached ticks should be done at the end of the day. If removal of attached ticks occurs within 36 hours, the risk of tick-borne infection is minimal. For proper tick removal, please watch the video at Tick removal. A vaccine for Lyme disease is not currently available.

Insect repellents can be effective at reducing bites from ticks that can spread disease. If you decide to use a repellent, use only what and how much you need for your situation. More information on repellents can be found at Environmental Protection Agency - insect-repellents.

In addition:

• Be sure to follow label directions.
• Try to reduce the use of repellents by dressing in long sleeves and pants tucked into socks or boots.
• Children should only handle repellents with adult supervision. Adults should apply repellents to their own hands first and then gently spread on the child's exposed skin. Avoid applying directly to children's hands. After returning indoors, wash your child's treated skin and clothing with soap and water or give the child a bath.
• Do not apply near eyes, nose or mouth and use sparingly around ears.
• After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.

Domestic animals can carry ticks into areas where you live so it is important to check pets for ticks before they enter the home.

Grasp the mouthparts with tweezers as close as possible to the attachment (skin) site. Be careful not to squeeze, crush or puncture the body of the tick, which may contain infectious fluids. Pull firmly and steadily upward to remove the tick. After removing the tick, thoroughly disinfect the bite site and wash hands. The NYSDOH has created a video on proper tick removal (Proper Tick removal) and a printable card with steps on how to remove ticks (How to Remove a Tick Card). See or call a doctor if there are concerns about incomplete tick removal. Do not attempt to remove ticks by using petroleum jelly, lit cigarettes or other home remedies because these may actually increase the chance of contracting a tick-borne disease.