Medical experts warn of unexpected increase in tick bites; They foresee the possibility that this year there will be a bad streak in terms of transmitted diseases.
Dr. Alina Filozov, an infectious disease physician at Scientific Institution Middlesex in Middletown, Connecticut, highlights the connection between exposure and the possibility of infections. “If there is a lot of exposure, there will probably be more cases of tick-borne infections,” he told Connected Press (AP).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued recommendations to protect yourself.
Tick bites typically increase in May, but “the data indicates that now is the time to act,” said Alison Hinckley, a Lyme disease expert at the CDC. “There are ticks and people are getting bitten.”
Growth in emergency room visitors
Statistics show that emergency department visits for tick bites are at record levels for this time of year.
Although the monitoring system has limitations, the data indicates that the highest figures since 2017 have been exceeded in all regions, except in the south-central part of the country.
Climate connection and tick expansion
Climate change could be driving the increase in the population of ticks, which thrive in warm, humid conditions. In turn, the availability of animals like deer and mice plays a really big role in the growth of these populations, which are associated with an increased risk of serious diseases like Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Experts advise specific precautions to prevent bites. This includes avoiding wooded areas and wearing insecticide-treated clothing. If a tick is found, it should be carefully removed. It is recommended to consult a doctor only if the tick has remained on the body for several days or if symptoms appear.
Symptoms of tick-borne diseases
Diseases transmitted by ticks usually share general symptoms, although more specific manifestations may later appear depending on the germ involved (such as Lyme disease, spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, etc.).
Most common initial symptoms
In the weeks after a tick bite, common signs include:
- Fever and chills.
- Muscle and joint pain (myalgia and arthralgia), similar to a bad flu.
- Intense fatigue, general malaise and loss of appetite.
- Headache and neck stiffness.
- Skin rash or rash, sometimes of the bull’s-eye type (erythema migrans) in Lyme disease.
Other signs that may appear
If the infection progresses without treatment, the following may occur:
- Swelling and pain in large joints (especially knees), typical of infectious arthritis.
- Neurological problems, such as facial weakness or drooping, difficulty concentrating, or memory changes.
- Cardiac alterations (palpitations or irregular heartbeats in some cases of late Lyme).
When to seek medical help
It is important to go to the doctor immediately if, after a tick bite or exposure in jungle/farmer areas, the following appear:
- Fever along with muscle pain, headache or skin rash.
- Neck stiffness, confusion, severe vomiting, or difficulty breathing.
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