Lyme disease and Powassan virus are not the only conditions that can be spread by the blacklegged tick. Other diseases transmitted by this species include anaplasmosis and babesiosis.
Of course, blacklegged ticks are not the only species of tick known to spread disease to humans. Across the US, for instance, a number of different species can be found that carry a variety of different pathogens potentially dangerous to humans. The lonestar tick is a repeat offender when it comes to spreading disease. Found in southcentral and eastern states in the US, this hard tick can carry pathogens that cause diseases such as ehrlichiosis, southern tick-associated rash illness STARI and tularemia.
Recent studies suggest that they may also transmit heartland virus. Another tick to look out for is the Rocky Mountain wood tick, found in the Rocky Mountain states at elevations of 4, to 10, feet. It is not just the slow-feeding hard ticks that can carry harmful pathogens either. These examples illustrate the fact that although Lyme disease typically occurs in very specific areas of the US, there are other tickborne diseases that can be found in other areas, so long as the environment is suited to the ticks.
There are a number of precautions that can be taken in order reduce the chances of a tick attaching, feeding and potentially transmitting an infection. When questing, ticks are most likely to be found in wooded and bushy areas, with high grass and leaf litter, so either avoid or be cautious in these types of environment.
Clothing can provide some protection from ticks. Wearing long-sleeved tops can protect the arms, and tucking pant legs into socks and boots can prevent ticks from having easy access to legs.
Repellents are also available that can be applied to both skin and clothing. After being out in an environment that could be home to ticks, it is recommended that you conduct a full-body tick check, especially as it is hard to notice them without actively searching. As stated before, prompt removal of ticks is crucial to reducing the risk of infection. Although specialized tick removal devices are available, a regular pair of fine-tipped tweezers is more than adequate.
Using the tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the surface of the skin as possible. With steady, even pressure, pull upwards. Twisting and jerking the tick can cause some of its mouth-parts to remain embedded in the skin.
If this occurs, carefully attempt to remove the remaining parts with the tweezers. Once removed, clean the affected area and your hands, and dispose of the tick by submersing it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed container or disposing of it down the toilet. Do not crush a tick with your fingers.
Ticks are most active in the warmer months, between April and September, so now is the time to be particularly wary of these questing bugs.
Although ticks are capable of spreading harmful diseases, with proper caution, these little beasties should not prevent you from being able to enjoy the great outdoors. New research has found a narrow-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against Lyme disease. The antibiotic is based on a compound found in soil. Lyme disease is an illness that infected black-legged ticks can transmit to humans. Find out about the symptoms, treatment, and how to reduce the risk.
Most people with Lyme disease will recover fully after taking antibiotics, although it may persist in rare cases. Learn more about Lyme disease here. There is no evidence to suggest that Lyme disease is contagious among humans. Learn more about transmission, prevention, and the symptoms in this…. Ticks and Lyme disease: how worried should we be? Written by James McIntosh on October 13, Most tick bites are painless and cause only minor signs and symptoms, such as redness, swelling or a sore on the skin.
But some ticks transmit bacteria that cause illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In general, to transmit Lyme disease a tick needs to be attached for at least 36 hours. Other infections can be transferred in a few hours or even a few minutes. The rash gets bigger. A small red bump may appear at the site of the tick bite. This is normal.
But if it develops into a larger rash, perhaps with a bull's-eye pattern, it may indicate Lyme disease. The rash usually appears within three to 14 days. Also consult your doctor if signs and symptoms disappear because you may still be at risk of the disease. Your risk of contracting a disease from a tick bite depends on where you live or travel to, how much time you spend outside in woody and grassy areas, and how well you protect yourself.
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However, ticks can cause allergic reactions , and certain ticks can pass diseases onto humans and pets when they bite. These can be dangerous or even deadly. Learn how to recognize ticks, the symptoms of tick-borne illnesses, and what to do if a tick bites you. Ticks are small, blood-sucking bugs. Ticks have eight legs. As they take in more blood, ticks grow.
At their largest, ticks can be about the size of a marble. After a tick has been feeding on its host for several days, they become engorged and can turn a greenish-blue color.
Ticks prefer warm, moist areas of the body. Unlike most other bugs that bite , ticks typically remain attached to your body after they bite you. After a period of up to 10 days of drawing blood from your body, an engorged tick can detach itself and fall off. Tick bites are usually harmless and may produce no symptoms. Some ticks carry diseases, which can be passed on when they bite. Tick-borne diseases can cause a variety of symptoms and usually develop within several days to a few weeks after a tick bite.
Potential symptoms of tick-borne diseases include:. Be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible if bitten by a tick in order to be evaluated for any potential treatment. Tick bites are often easy to identify. This is because the tick can remain attached to the skin for up to 10 days after it first bites. Most tick bites are harmless and will cause no physical signs or symptoms.
Only certain types of ticks transmit disease. Most signs or symptoms of a tick-borne disease will begin to occur within a few days to a few weeks after a tick bite. For example, in areas of the country where Lyme disease is common, it may be recommended under certain conditions that you receive treatment for Lyme disease after a tick bite even before symptoms start. Let your doctor know that a tick recently bit you.
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