Lyme disease forecasters are saying 2021 could be one for the record books. According to Pest.org, which publishes a yearly forecast on tick populations, “Most states will experience the warmer, wetter conditions that drive tick populations – and the prospect of tick-borne diseases – skyward.”
Ohio is home to the blacklegged ticks that carry Lyme disease. And while they’re most commonly found in the eastern and southern parts of the state, their range and populations continue to expand and people are having more encounters with them statewide in the forest habitats they prefer.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, most humans are infected through the bites of immature ticks calls nymphs. Nymphs are tiny (less than 2 mm), making them difficult to see. They feed during the spring and summer months. Adult ticks can also transmit Lyme disease bacteria, but they’re much larger and more likely to be discovered and removed before they’ve had time to transmit the bacteria.
Knowing that Lyme disease cases are on the rise, it's important to know what to expect before you go outdoors and what to do once you come back inside in order to prevent it. Here are some suggestions.
Before going outdoors
The most important thing is to be aware of where ticks live. They live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals. Many people even get ticks in their own yard. As a precaution, you can spray permethrin insect repellent on clothing and around your wrists and ankles before heading out to try and keep ticks away.
Before heading back inside
After you’ve been outdoors, check your body for ticks. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body, including under the arms, in and around the ears and hair, inside the belly button, back of the knees, around the waist, and groin area. Check your clothes, coats, backpacks, and shoes as well since ticks can ride inside on them. And if you brought pets along on your outdoor adventure, check them, too.
It’s important to note that a tick needs to adhere to the body for approximately 24 hours in order to transmit the disease. So just because you find a tick on your skin or clothing doesn’t mean you have Lyme disease.
Watch for symptoms
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the early symptoms of Lyme disease typically begin 3 to 30 days after a tick bite and can include:
- Erythema migrans rash ("bull's eye" rash)
- Headache
- Fever
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
Many of these symptoms are not specific to Lyme disease and can be caused by a variety of different factors. However, the erythema migrans (EM) rash is often characteristic of Lyme disease. It’s a rash that often begins at the site of the tick bite and gradually expands. The center of the rash may clear as it enlarges, making it look like a bull's eye or target. The rash usually appears within seven to 14 days after the tick bite. It may be warm, but it’s usually not painful or itchy.
Not everyone who’s infected with Lyme bacteria will develop the rash, however. About 30 percent of confirmed cases reported to the CDC do not have an EM rash at the time of their diagnosis. More people report joint pain or swelling.
Get treated
People treated with appropriate antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually recover rapidly and completely. Early diagnosis and proper antibiotic treatment can help prevent late Lyme disease. That’s why it’s important to talk to your primary care provider to receive individual treatment. Also, Lyme disease tests can be difficult to interpret and may lag behind a clinical diagnosis, so be sure to see your doctor and follow their advice while you await the results.
Outdoor activities are some of the best parts of summer. So don’t avoid them out of fear of Lyme disease. Just take precautions before you go into the woods and fields, be meticulous after you get back to make sure you didn’t bring any ticks with you, and get checked as soon as you notice any symptoms. Together these safeguards should allow you to stay safe and active all summer.