Community Health Tip - Know How to Do a Tick Check Because Tick Season is HERE!
Rutland, VT –Tick bites and tick-related issues are most commonly reported in the spring and fall. When you spend time outdoors or have pets that go outdoors, be proactive and learn how to check your clothing and pets for ticks, the tiny black parasites that attach to the skin and can transmit diseases.
According to the Vermont Health Department, Addison County had the highest density of adult ticks and Rutland County had the highest density of nymph ticks reported. This is significant because ticks in the nymph life stage are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see, and they may be able to feed on human hosts longer, increasing the likelihood of tick-bite illness.
KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF TICK-RELATED ILLNESSES
Lyme disease is the most common tick-bite illness in Vermont, followed by anaplasmosis and then babesiosis which have increased significantly over the last ten years.
After a tick bite, watch for symptoms for 30 days. Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue, or a rash. Most people with Lyme disease will have a rash that starts as redness near the tick bite area and can sometimes grow to look like a bull's-eye.
Unlike Lyme disease, anaplasmosis does not commonly cause a rash. The most common symptoms reported in Vermont residents with anaplasmosis include fever, malaise, muscle aches, chills and headaches.
Babesiosis is caused by an infection by a microscopic blood parasite carried by ticks. Many people who have been infected with Babesia do not experience any symptoms however, 70% of cases reported to the Health Department are in Vermonters 55 years of age or older and have occurred in residents of Bennington, Rutland, Windsor and Windham counties.
PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY
Some ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see, so it's important to take preventive measures:
Use a chemical repellent wth DEET permethrin or picaridin
Wear light-colored protective clothng
Tuck pant legs into socks
Avoid tick-infested areas such as tall grass, leaf litter or shrbs
Check yourself, your children and pets daily for ticks and carefully remove any ticks you find
Contact your Community Health provider if you develop any symptoms, and tell them about a recent tick bite, when it occurred, and your outdoor activities. Some tick bite illnesses can be treated with a short course of antibiotics. Most people who begin treatment early on fully recover. |
