If you get bitten by a deer tick, you could end up with Lyme disease. An infected tick can pass the bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) that causes Lyme disease to you.
Anyone can get infected with the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. But if you live in certain areas and spend lots of time outdoors—especially in grassy or wooded areas—you may be at higher risk.
With cases of the disease on the rise, it’s more important than ever to learn how to protect yourself from ticks and recognize the signs of an infection.
Why Are Lyme Disease Cases Going Up?
“In the last ten years, we’ve gone from seeing 8 cases per 100,000 people to 18 per 100,000,” says Dina Ibrahim, M.D., a family medicine specialist at Henry Ford Health. “That’s more than double the number of people getting the disease.”
There are several reasons why cases of Lyme disease may be increasing, and they’re mainly related to climate change. “Warmer temperatures and higher humidity mean better weather for ticks to thrive,” says Dr. Ibrahim. Those warmer temperatures can also lead to a longer season in which ticks are active, giving you more opportunities to come into contact with them.
Traditionally, infected deer ticks were most commonly found in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest states. But with changing weather patterns, the conditions are now favorable for ticks to survive in most areas of the country.
“The bottom line is that more ticks, living in more places, means more cases of Lyme disease,” says Dr. Ibrahim.
Tips for Preventing Lyme Disease
The key to avoiding Lyme disease is to avoid exposure to the ticks that carry it. Of course, that’s not always easy. “You can get bitten in your own backyard or when outdoors on a hike,” says Dr. Ibrahim.
If you can’t guarantee that you won’t come into contact with infected ticks, you need to take precautions against getting bitten. Start with what you wear.
“Ideally, you want to cover all of your skin so that the ticks have nothing to latch onto,” says Dr. Ibrahim. That means long pants, long sleeves, long socks—and even tucking your pants into your socks.
Opting for light-colored clothing is best. The ticks aren’t as attracted to it, and it’s easier to spot one if it’s on your clothes. This is important because deer ticks are tiny (about the size of a sesame seed) and can be easily overlooked. They have black legs and a reddish-brown back partly covered by a black shield, but can look different at different life stages. It’s also important to be able to tell deer ticks from other kinds of ticks, such as dog ticks and lone star ticks.
Since it’s not always realistic to be completely covered, Dr. Ibrahim also recommends using tick repellent if you’re in an area prone to ticks. You can use permethrin spray on clothing and camping gear (but not directly on your skin). For skin, look for a tick repellent that contains an EPA-approved ingredient such as DEET or picaridin.
“When you come indoors, you need to check your entire body—especially spots that ticks are attracted to such as your scalp, armpits, groin and behind the knees,” says Dr. Ibrahim. If you find one, you want to remove the tick immediately. “Use tweezers to grab it and pull it straight up,” she says.
If you can’t remove the tick (or a piece gets stuck), see a doctor. Removing ticks within 24 hours reduces your risk of infection.
Recognizing Lyme Disease Symptoms
Even if you never see a tick on your skin, it’s important to keep an eye out for signs of Lyme disease. The most obvious symptom is the classic bull’s-eye-shaped rash that often develops within a few days or weeks at the site of the tick bite.
Other signs to be on the lookout for include flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, muscle aches and headache. “Getting these flu-type symptoms when it’s not flu season could indicate Lyme disease,” says Dr. Ibrahim.
Lyme Disease Treatment
“Most cases of Lyme disease are caught early and can be easily treated,” says Dr. Ibrahim. A blood test can detect antibodies against the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Your body only makes those antibodies if you’ve been infected.
The standard treatment involves a week-long course of antibiotics. But if symptoms are severe—or you’ve been sick for a while before diagnosis—you might need longer treatment.
Staying vigilant is key when spending time outdoors in places where infected ticks flourish. But with the right precautions—and a watchful eye—you can prevent Lyme disease.
Reviewed by Dr. Dina Ibrahim, a family medicine doctor who sees patients at Henry Ford Medical Center – Royal Oak and Henry Ford Center for Athletic Medicine - Detroit.
