Springtime is Tick Time

Spring is here. Tulips and daffodils have awakened from their long winter sleep, and many of us are anxious to get out of the house and enjoy the great outdoors.  

But there can be danger lurking out there, especially in wooded or overgrown areas.

Whether  hiking through the woods, camping or just cleaning up the yard, residents should be on the lookout for ticks - those itsy-bitsy, blood-sucking bearers of Lyme disease.

According to the Will County Health Department, Lyme disease is one of the most prominent of several illnesses carried by ticks.

“While West Nile Virus has received much more attention, Lyme disease has quietly become the nation’s most common vector-borne illness,” said Vic Reato of the Will County Health Department in a recent press release. “Health officials have documented a steady increase in Lyme disease cases since 2000, and Will County activity has also been increasing.”

Since 2003, state health officials have identified steadily growing numbers of black-legged deer ticks in northern Illinois.  And, Reato stated, more ticks translates to more potential Lyme disease transmissions, particularly from April through July.

“Outdoor enthusiasts are at special risk for Lyme disease, which can produce joint pain, aseptic meningitis, facial palsy, cognitive impairment and heart abnormalities,” Reato said. “The best way to minimize the Lyme disease threat is to steer clear of areas likely to harbor ticks.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website, ticks can attach to any part of the human body, but are most often found in hard-to-see areas such as the groin, armpits and scalp.

“In most cases, the tick must be attached for 36-48 hours or more before the Lyme disease bacterium can be transmitted,” the CDC states on its website.

But, the CDC warns, most infections are transmitted in the spring and summer months through the bites of immature ticks, or nymphs, which are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but they are much larger and may be more likely to be discovered and removed before they have had time to transmit the bacteria.

Since 2010, 12 cases of Lyme disease have been reported in Will County. The county’s infectious disease control department has investigated about 100 potential cases since 2008.

And, the health department stated, although Illinois totals for last year are not yet available, the 135 cases of tick-borne illness reported in 2010 illustrated an increase of more than 320 percent over a seven-year period.

Reato offers the following tips to both minimize exposure to ticks and deal with the aftermath of tick bites:

• Wear light-colored clothing when frequenting wooded areas where ticks may be present. Long sleeves, pants, shoes and socks are highly recommended.
• Examine yourself frequently after camping, hunting, hiking and other outdoor activities in or near wooded areas.
• Use insect repellant – and always read the label before applying.
• Quickly remove any ticks attached to your skin using fine-tipped tweezers. Gently grasp the tick and pull it out with a steady, upward motion.
• After removing ticks, disinfect the bite with soap, hot water, rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide – and be sure to thoroughly wash your hands.
• Record the date and location of tick bites – and consult a health-care provider immediately if a rash or flu-like symptoms appear after tick removal or time spent in brushy, wooded areas.

For more information about tick-borne diseases, go to www.willcountyhealth.org, www.idph.state.il.us  or  www.cdc.gov/lyme/transmission/index.html.