Like many things, getting outside and enjoying the nice weather comes with some risks. Warmer weather in the North Country brings about insects that may be capable of causing illness.
Of particular concern to this area is the tick. Ticks flourish with warm temperatures, high humidity and a variety of possible hosts. Ticks survive best in areas covered by low-lying vegetation. Vegetation provides sufficient coverage from the sun, which helps ticks retain moisture better.
In environments with adequate shelter, ticks are able to search for a host for months on end, greatly increasing the odds of survival. Exposed habitats greatly reduce the amount of time a tick may search for a host. Lengthy exposure to the sun will cause dehydration in a tick.
The ideal environment is also plentiful in potential hosts -- anything from mice, deer, dogs, birds or people. Ticks generally are not born with disease-causing agents, but rather acquire them during feedings on various hosts. They pass the diseases on to other hosts (humans) during successive feedings. Ticks need to be embedded in the body for several hours to cause infection. Early detection is vital in preventing illness from occurring.
Tick-borne illnesses
The Department of Environmental Health, Fort Drum is involved in annual tick drags on various Fort Drum locations. The ticks are sent to the lab at U.S. Army Public Health Command for testing. Of the sampling of ticks collected and sent in last year, Borrelia burgdorferi, which causes Lyme disease in humans, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which causes Human Granulocytic Anaplasmosis (HGA) in humans, were detected. Both tick-borne illnesses are capable of causing serious health complications if not detected and treated promptly.
A person infected with Lyme disease may develop fever, fatigue, headache or a skin rash called erythema migraines. The rash is sometimes referred to as a "bull's-eye" rash because of its red circular appearance. Sometimes the rash does not occur and symptoms develop months after exposure to the tick.
If Lyme disease is not detected and treated early, the infection can spread to the joints, the heart and the nervous system, causing facial paralysis, swelling in the brain, and/or pain and numbness in the hands, feet and other areas of the body.
The symptoms of HGA are very diverse, ranging from asymptomatic infection to fatal disease. Initial symptoms typically occur five to 10 days after the tick bite and may include fever, chills, severe headache and body aches. Nausea and cough also could occur. A rash is uncommon, but has been reported.
Both diseases can be treated with antibiotics.
Minimizing tick risks
The risks associated with the ticks can be minimized or eliminated. The chance of encountering a tick increases as a person moves away from paved and mowed areas and gets into grassy areas. As indicated previously, ticks move around tall grass and heavy underbrush. If a person walks through this vegetation, he or she is likely to pick up a tick.
When engaging in an activity that requires walking through dense foliage, wear light-colored clothes so a tick may be easily spotted. Apply an insect repellent according to the manufacturer's instruction to deter ticks. It is important to tuck pants into socks and shirts into pants to aid in spotting a tick before it gets under clothing.
Ticks that are just crawling on clothing or skin cannot transmit disease. However, it is important to check frequently for ticks after certain outdoor activities. Remove clothing and check for ticks while showering.
Ticks are very small and can easily be missed unless checking thoroughly. They tend to move towards dark, moist areas, such as the groin or armpits. Clothing that is removed should be placed in the dryer for 20-30 minutes to kill unseen ticks. Children and pets also should be checked carefully.
If a tick is found embedded on the skin, it needs to be removed promptly and very carefully. The tick's mouth should be grasped as close to the skin as possible with fine-tipped tweezers. Pull outward in a smooth, steady motion. Avoid twisting or jerking as this may leave parts of the tick in the skin and could force infected fluid further into the skin. After removing the tick, clean the area with warm soap and water and wash your hands. An antiseptic should be applied.
Symptoms generally develop within one month after infection. If you feel that a portion of the tick remained embedded in the skin, seek medical attention.
If flu-like illness, rashes or generalized ill feelings develop after the bite of a tick, seek medical attention as soon as possible. Timely diagnosis and treatment will speed recovery and prevent lasting symptoms.
There is no vaccine against Lyme disease, so wearing the right clothing in tick-infested areas and early removal of ticks remain the most important prevention measures. Keep in mind that many times, the tick that caused illness in a person is never found.
For more information about local ticks, contact Fort Drum Army Public Health Nursing at 772-6404 or Fort Drum Environmental Health at 772-7678 or visit www.cdc.gov.
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