Tick Season Is Here: How to Protect Yourself From Lyme Disease
Warmer weather means more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, whether you’re hiking, gardening, camping, or simply spending time in your backyard. Unfortunately, it also means tick season is in full swing.
While not every tick carries disease, some can transmit Lyme disease, the most common tick-borne disease in the United States. Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease. Blacklegged ticks can also carry other illnesses, including anaplasmosis and babesiosis, making tick awareness especially important during the warmer months.
The good news is that Lyme disease is highly treatable when diagnosed and treated early. Knowing how Lyme disease spreads, what symptoms to watch for, and how to prevent tick bites can help you enjoy the outdoors without worrying.
What Is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is one of the most common illnesses spread by ticks in the United States. Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a bacterial infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. It is transmitted primarily through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks, sometimes called blackleg ticks or deer ticks.
Ticks become infected after feeding on certain small animals, such as mice and other wildlife that carry the bacteria. In general, infected ticks must be attached for more than 24 hours before transmitting Lyme disease bacteria.
It’s important to know that Lyme disease is not contagious. It cannot spread from person to person through casual contact, coughing, or sharing food or drinks.
In the eastern and midwestern United States, Lyme disease is spread primarily by Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the blacklegged or deer tick. Along the West Coast, the disease is spread by Ixodes pacificus, the western blacklegged tick.
Although Lyme disease is most common in the Northeast, Midwest, and upper Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, anyone who spends time outdoors in areas where ticks live should take necessary precautions.
Why Tick Bites Are More Common During Warmer Months
Ticks are most active during late spring, summer, and early fall, although they can remain active anytime temperatures stay above freezing.
Many people associate ticks with deep forests, but they’re actually found in a variety of outdoor environments, including:
- Tall grass
- Wooded trails
- Brushy areas
- Leaf litter
- Parks
- Backyards with overgrown vegetation
You don’t have to go camping to encounter a tick. Gardening, walking your dog, coaching youth sports, or mowing the lawn can all increase your exposure to tick bites.
During late spring and early summer, immature blacklegged ticks, known as nymphs, are especially active. About the size of a poppy seed, they’re easy to miss and are responsible for many cases of Lyme disease transmission.
What Are the Symptoms of Lyme Disease?
One reason Lyme disease can be difficult to recognize is that symptoms vary from person to person. Some individuals develop noticeable early signs, while others experience more subtle symptoms.
Early Lyme Disease Symptoms
Early disseminated Lyme disease symptoms often develop within three to 30 days after a tick bite:
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Dizziness
- Joint pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
One of the most recognizable signs is erythema migrans (EM), often called a bullseye rash. Although it’s commonly associated with a red ring and clear center, the rash doesn’t always have the classic bullseye appearance. For some people, it appears as a solid red patch that gradually expands.
It’s also important to know that not everyone with Lyme disease develops an EM rash, so its absence doesn’t necessarily rule out infection.
In some parts of the United States, bites from the lone star tick can cause Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), which produces a rash that closely resembles an EM rash. Because these conditions can appear similar, it’s important to seek medical evaluation rather than trying to diagnose yourself.
Later Symptoms
If Lyme disease is left untreated, it can progress beyond the initial infection and affect the joints (Lyme arthritis), nervous system (neuroborreliosis), or heart (Lyme carditis). Symptoms that may appear later include:
- Joint pain or swelling, particularly in the knees
- Facial weakness or paralysis (facial palsy)
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Meningitis symptoms
- Severe headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Neck stiffness
- Persistent fatigue
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
Because these symptoms can resemble those of other illnesses, it’s important to share any recent or potential tick exposure with your healthcare provider.
When Should You See a Healthcare Provider?
Not every tick bite requires medical treatment, but it’s important to monitor yourself for symptoms after spending time outdoors or removing a tick.
You should contact a healthcare provider if you:
- Develop a rash after a tick bite
- Experience flu-like symptoms following outdoor activities
- Notice unexplained joint pain or swelling
- Find an attached tick and later begin feeling ill
Seeking care early allows your provider to evaluate your symptoms and determine whether additional testing or treatment is appropriate. Do not try to diagnose Lyme disease on your own, as many illnesses can cause similar symptoms.
How Is Lyme Disease Diagnosed?
Diagnosing Lyme disease often involves several factors rather than a single test.
Your healthcare provider may consider:
- Your symptoms
- Recent outdoor activities or possible tick exposure
- A physical examination
- Blood tests when appropriate
It’s worth noting that blood tests may not detect Lyme disease immediately after infection because it takes time for the body to produce detectable antibodies. Because of this, healthcare providers may diagnose early disseminated Lyme disease based on symptoms, recent tick exposure, medical history, and the presence of a characteristic rash.
Lyme Disease Treatment
When diagnosed early, Lyme disease treatment is usually very effective.
Most people with Lyme disease are treated with oral antibiotics. Depending on your age, symptoms, and medical history, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications such as doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil. The earlier Lyme disease is diagnosed and treated, the more effective the treatment is for most people.
More serious complications, such as Lyme carditis, which can affect the heart’s electrical system, may require hospitalization or additional treatment.
Taking the medication exactly as prescribed and completing the full course is important, even if symptoms begin to improve.
Some people continue to experience fatigue, muscle aches, or joint discomfort after completing treatment. This is sometimes referred to as post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). Researchers are still working to understand why these symptoms occur, but ongoing symptoms should always be discussed with a healthcare provider.
How to Prevent Tick Bites
Preventing tick bites remains the best defense against Lyme disease. Before heading outdoors, it’s important to take the necessary precautions.
When spending time outdoors:
- Wear long sleeves and long pants when possible.
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET.
- Stay in the center of trails and avoid brushing against tall grass or dense vegetation.
- Perform a full-body tick check after spending time outside.
- Shower soon after coming indoors to help wash away unattached ticks.
- Check children, pets, clothing, and outdoor gear carefully before coming inside.
- Treat clothing and outdoor gear with permethrin according to the product instructions.
Even if you only spend a short time outdoors, making tick checks part of your routine can help you find and remove ticks before they have time to transmit disease.
How to Remove a Tick Safely
If you find an attached tick, don’t panic. Removing it promptly and properly can reduce the risk of infection.
Steps for Proper Tick Removal:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers.
- Grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting or jerking the tick.
- Clean the bite area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
- Watch for symptoms over the next several weeks.
Avoid home remedies such as covering the tick with petroleum jelly, nail polish, or attempting to burn it with a match. These methods are not recommended and may actually increase the risk of complications.
Enjoy the Outdoors While Staying Protected
Spending time outdoors offers countless physical and mental health benefits, and a few simple precautions can go a long way toward reducing your risk of Lyme disease. By checking for ticks after outdoor activities, removing them promptly, and recognizing the early signs of infection, you can continue enjoying the outdoors with confidence.
If you’ve recently been bitten by a tick or develop symptoms after spending time outdoors, don’t wait to seek medical care. The primary care team at Meridian HealthCare can evaluate your symptoms, answer your questions, and recommend the appropriate next steps.
