Tick Season: Protect Yourself and Your Pets from Tickborne Diseases
Ticks are parasitic arachnids that thrive in warmer climates throughout the year and become more active during summer months (April through September) in cooler regions.
These tiny bloodsuckers, measuring only three to five millimeters, inhabit grassy, brushy, or wooded areas and can pose a risk of tickborne diseases, such as fever, paralysis, or even death.
A Near-Death Experience with Tick Paralysis
Six-year-old Collin almost lost his life after a tick chose him as its host. His mother, Stephanie, noticed that her normally energetic son was not moving as he usually would.
Thinking he might have hit his head at his brother’s baseball game, his parents took him to the emergency room. Collin’s condition rapidly worsened, and doctors struggled to identify the cause of his paralysis. It was only when they found and removed a tick behind his ear that Collin began to recover.
Tickborne Diseases on the Rise
As summer begins in many states and across Canada, ticks are seeking fresh supplies of blood from people and animals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cases of illnesses from tick, mosquito, and flea bites tripled from 2004 to 2016. The CDC also reported in a 2018 study that nine new germs spread by mosquitoes and ticks were discovered or introduced into the U.S.
Although tick bites are common, developing paralysis as Collin did is very rare. It is essential to practice prevention and be aware of possible health implications resulting from tick or mosquito bites.
Know the Symptoms of Tick and Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Zika: Spread by infected mosquitoes, symptoms include fever, rash, headache, joint pain, conjunctivitis, and muscle pain. Zika can be sexually transmitted and may cause birth defects in babies born to infected mothers.
West Nile: Transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, symptoms can include headache, body aches, joint pain, rash, vomiting, or diarrhea. People with immunodeficiency disorders are at a higher risk.
Lyme disease: Contracted through the bite of an infected tick, flu-like symptoms (chills, fever, body aches, and fatigue) and rashes may develop. If untreated, the infection can spread to the joints, heart, and nervous system.
Dr. Travis Stork, former host of the TV series The Doctors, advises people with symptoms to see a healthcare provider immediately for proper diagnosis and testing.
Prevention Is Key
Dr. Stork recommends avoiding areas where tickborne diseases thrive and being proactive in protecting oneself. Lyme disease-carrying ticks are prevalent in wooded areas, tall grass, and lawns and gardens, where people tend to play, hike, and relax during the summer months.
For pets, always check them carefully for ticks when bringing them inside. Dogs can also contract Lyme disease, with symptoms such as lameness and joint stiffness.
Reducing the Risk of Tick and Mosquito-Borne Diseases
To minimize the risk of mosquito or tickborne diseases, avoid tall grass and always check yourself and your pets for ticks after being outdoors. Mosquitoes are most active in areas with standing water and at dusk, so cover up with pants and long sleeves when outdoors in the evening. Use insect repellent with DEET to protect yourself and your loved ones.