Centred Outdoors: What you need to know about tick-borne disease
Dear readers,
As fall approaches, the sights and sounds of a new season invite us to explore the outside differently than we did this summer. Cooler mornings are perfect for refreshing morning walks and soon our local ridgelines will be exploding with vibrant colors, begging us to venture out and take photos of their beauty. Be sure to prioritize safety as you make plans to hike, hunt, bike and play this fall season by wearing orange during the hunting season, maintaining proper social distancing outside, and remembering that tick prevention is important even as the weather cools down. Learn more about tick prevention in this week’s Centred Outdoors feature by Dr. Carrie Hanley, manager of infection prevention and control at Mount Nittany Health.
Thanks, and happy exploring!
Deb Nardone, Executive Director, ClearWater Conservancy
Here in central Pennsylvania, we are blessed with numerous parks, trails and woodland retreats. Unfortunately, we’re not the only ones who enjoy spending time in these natural spaces: ticks do, too.
Ticks are parasitic creatures that feed on the blood of animals, including humans. In general, adult ticks are the size of a sesame seed and nymphal ticks are the size of a poppy seed. They are typically found near the ground or in brush-covered or wooded areas, but can also be found in your backyard. They can’t jump or fly, but instead climb tall grasses and shrubs and wait for a potential host to brush against them. Ticks then attach to their host and can transmit diseases.
The good news is, with some basic information on how to identify and prevent a tick encounter, the great outdoors are yours for the taking.
Common tick-borne diseases in central Pennsylvania
Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in this area. About 70-80% of people who contract Lyme disease develop a skin lesion at the tick-bite site, often with a bullseye pattern rash. Infected individuals may also experience a headache, fever, sore throat and nausea. If left untreated, the disease may progress to debilitating rheumatologic, cardiac and neurological conditions.
Another tick-borne disease that is becoming more common in our area is anaplasmosis. Symptoms of anaplasmosis may include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Rarely, it can cause severe illness such as bleeding problems, respiratory failure or organ failure.
After being bitten by an infected tick, symptoms typically begin three to 30 days for Lyme disease and one to two weeks for anaplasmosis. Each of these diseases can be treated with medication. If you experience any symptoms of a tick-borne illness, contact your health care provider immediately. Be sure to tell the doctor about your recent tick bite.
Tick bite prevention
Use repellents containing DEET or another EPA-registered insect repellent.
Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants and/or tall socks.
Stick to the center of the trail and avoid walking through tall grass or brushy areas.
Check your clothing, gear and pets for ticks.
Check your body after being outdoors, especially under the arms, in and around the ears, in the belly button, behind the knees, between the legs, around the waist and the hairline and scalp.
Shower soon after being outdoors.
Treat dogs and cats for ticks as recommended by a veterinarian.
Removing ticks
If you do find a tick, it’s important to remove it quickly and properly to avoid increasing the risk of disease transmission. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk the tick. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, an iodine scrub, or soap and water.
There’s so much to enjoy about being outside in our community. By being aware and taking a few extra precautions, you can safely enjoy time outside and avoid tick-borne illness.