Are you planning a hike outdoors or a trip to the park with your kids? It's time to brush up on the facts about those creepy crawly ticks lurking in grass and wooded areas. Deer tick season begins in June and that means the beginning of Lyme disease season too. Lyme disease is caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi that is carried by infected deer ticks also known as blacklegged ticks. Deer ticks are smaller than the wood (or dog) tick and are generally found in the northeastern, north central, and Pacific coastal regions of North America according to the CDC.
The tiny deer ticks live in leaves and grasses in or near wooded or brushy areas where you also find deer, mice and other mammals. The ticks can't fly or jump so they have to latch onto you when you walk by. They usually grab on at the foot or ankle and then climb up. (They attach at ground level and usually don't climb trees to search for a host.)
Even the nymph form of the tiny red tick can transmit the disease and these miniscule ticks can be difficult to see. (Check out the photo below.) Not all deer ticks are infected with the bacteria to cause Lyme disease. Some infected deer ticks leave a tell-tale red rash from the bite, but you may only experience vague symptoms that can be confused with other ailments like chronic fatigue.
Identifying Deer Ticks
The deer tick is much smaller than the common wood tick. The adult female tick is red and dark brown. The male is smaller than the female and is dark in color. The tiny deer nymph is the size of a poppy seed. The even smaller tick larva is lighter in color. See the tick image below. Note that the ticks are next to a centimeter ruler.
Left to right in this photo: - adult female deer tick - adult male deer tick - nymph deer tick - deer tick larva is to the far right. (Graphic image above includes a photo of ticks from Minnesota Dept. of Health: Blacklegged Ticks (Deer Tick, Bear Tick).
What to do if you find a deer tick
The sooner you can remove a deer tick the better. To prevent lyme disease do DAILY tick checks because you want the deer tick to embed your skin for less than 24-48 hours.
- If you find a tick on you or your pets, use a thin-bladed pair of tweezers.
- Grab the tick by the head or the mouth as close to the skin as possible and remove attached tick slowly and gently.
- Do NOT use the ineffective remedies like petroleum jelly, nail polishes, or burning matches.
- Save the tick for testing/diagnosis: Put tick in a small jar to give your health practitioner as soon as possible.
- An effective history of exposure is helpful for treatment. You can take a photo of the tick or the rash and email it to your doctor for clarification.
- You can't effectively wash ticks out of clothing, but you can get rid of them by putting clothing in the dryer for a cycle.
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Diagnosis, Symptoms, Tick Comparisons, Prevention, Location of Lyme Disease Outbreaks,
Because the disease has symptoms that mimic other diseases, diagnosis is often difficult. If you suspect you have been bitten, go to a doctor immediately. A physical exam and blood test may be done. But a blood test is not always conclusive. Early recognition of signs and an awareness of history of possible exposure areas is critical. Fortunately, the disease can be treated with anitbiotics. However, the earlier the diagnosis is made the better the recovery.
To reduce deer tick population near your house: Keep lawn mowed, brush trimmed, and leaf litter away from home. Clear vegetation on paths and trails.
- Northeast
- Great Lakes region
- Northwestern Washington
- Parts of California
Because the Lyme disease has symptoms that mimic other diseases, diagnosis is often difficult. If you suspect you have been bitten, go to a doctor immediately. A physical exam and blood test may be done. But a blood test is not always conclusive. Early recognition of signs and an awareness of history of possible exposure areas is critical. Fortunately, the disease can be treated with anitbiotics. However, the earlier the diagnosis is made the better the recovery.
- Red rash resembling a bulls-eye may be present in some case. This rash is present in 60 to 80 percent of the Lyme disease cases. Image link for this Rash
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fatigue
- Multiple rashes
- Facial paralysis
- Fever
- Stiff neck
- Headache
- Weakness, numbness, pain in arms
- Irregular heart beat
- Weakness or fatigue
The American dog tick (wood tick) is larger than the deer tick. Click on this link to see the American Dog Tick.
Prevention
- Keep lawn mowed, brush trimmed, and leaf litter away from home.
- Clear vegetation on paths and trails.
Here are more tips to prevent lyme disease
- Avoid wooded brushy areas with high grass and lots of leaf "litter" because ticks love this habitat. If possible, avoid sitting on the ground in these areas.
- Make it easier to spot the tiny bugs on clothing: When outdoors in grassy or wooded areas wear light colored clothing to help you see ticks.
- Create a tick barrier: Tuck pants into socks or boots when walking in deer tick areas.
- Keep long hair pulled back or in a hat to prevent tick attachment when sitting on the ground.
- Deer tick repellant for clothing should include Permethrin.
- If you apply repellant to the skin it should contain DEET. Don't apply DEET to the face. Read the directions carefully. Also talk to your doctor about the health precautions for repellants and children. (The CDC recommends adults using repellants with 20-30% DEET on exposed skin to prevent bites.)
- Daily Tick Checks: At the end of the deer have someone do a tick check. The tick must be attached for at least 24-48 hours to transmit the bacteria.
- Pets: Check your pets for ticks each day. (There is a vaccine for pets to prevent Lyme disease, but it won't stop the ticks from hitching a ride on your pet and entering your house.) There are some topical topical repellants available for pets.
