Tick Bites Sending Many to ER

Emergency department visits for tick bites have reached their highest levels for this time of year since 2017, driven by rising tick activity in the Northeast and Midwest as warmer temperatures expand tick habitats, USA Today reported.

Every year, an estimated 31 million people in the U.S. are bitten by a tick, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Ticks can spread a number of potentially serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, spotted fever group rickettsiosis, ehrlichiosis, and others.

The CDC warned that Lyme disease, which affects an estimated 476,000 people annually, remains the most common tick‑borne illness in the U.S. According to Harvard Health, most (90%) of U.S. Lyme disease cases have been reported in 14 states, including Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

The best protective measure against tickborne illness is preventing tick bites, no matter what state you are in. Experts recommend thorough tick checks after outdoor exposure to reduce infection risk.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) offers additional tips for avoiding tickborne illnesses:

• Learn about tick removal and symptom awareness here.
• Avoid wooded, bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
• Wear light-colored clothing to make ticks easier to find. Tuck long pants into socks and boots.
• Apply an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent containing 20% DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to label directions. The EPA has a search tool that can help you find products that best suit your needs.
• Conduct full-body tick checks (including underarms, ears, belly button, behind knees, between legs, waist, hair and scalp) every two to three hours. Also check any gear.
• Bathe or shower within two hours after coming indoors. Kill any ticks that may be on your clothing by putting it in the dryer on high for 10 minutes (or one hour for damp clothes).
• Many tickborne diseases can have similar signs and symptoms. If you get a tick bite and develop fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, fatigue, or rash within a few weeks, see your healthcare provider.
• It is often helpful to keep the tick for species identification. Place the tick in rubbing alcohol or in a sealed bag/container to bring to your healthcare provider or local health department for submission to species identification.