Most years, tick bites account for 30 per 100,000 emergency room (ER) visits in the United States. This year, that number jumped to 105 cases in April alone. Such a dramatic leap does not bode well for this season. People who are eager to shake off winter’s cabin fever and spend time outside between spring and autumn are vulnerable to many different types of insect bites. While most of these bites are just annoying, some of them can cause serious health issues. Tick bites in particular can wreak havoc on a person’s health, because these bugs can carry rather terrifying infectious diseases.
Potentially Serious Side Effects from Tick Bites
In addition to localized infections from bites and uncomfortable allergic reactions, tick bites can cause devastating side effects.
Lyme disease is usually carried by the black-legged tick. Symptoms begin with fatigue, headache, a fever, and a “bulls-eye” rash called erythema migrans. This infection can spread to the nervous system, joints, and cardiovascular system if it’s left untreated.
Deer ticks can carry Powassan virus, which has a fatality rate of up to 19 percent. Its side effects can include paralysis, cognitive damage, persistent neurological deficits, and respiratory distress/failure. This is the illness that artist, author, and musician MaryAnn Harris, wife of Canadian author Charles de Lint suffered encephalitis from a tick bite in September of 2021. She suffered nearly complete paralysis and respiratory failure until her death in June of 2024.
Additionally, the Lone Star tick is known to cause Alpha-gal syndrome, commonly referred to as the “meat allergy” syndrome. People who are bitten by these ticks initially suffer symptoms such as wheezing, hives, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Once those symptoms subside, the individual is left with a severe allergy to red meat and other food products sourced from mammals, such as gelatin or dairy products.
While some people may experience a lessening of symptoms over time, the allergy is permanent for the majority of sufferers.
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How to Protect Yourself
Prevention is key to avoiding the illnesses caused by ticks. When you venture outside in areas known to have high numbers of these insects, be sure to dress appropriately. This includes wearing long-sleeved shirts and full-length pants, tucking the latter into your socks. Try to choose lighter-colored clothing so you can spot ticks more easily.
Stick to the middle of forest paths rather than venturing out into tall grasses or near clumps of trees. When you get home, immediately put all of your clothes into the dryer. Tumble dry on high heat for 10 to 15 minutes, as this will kill any ticks that may be hiding in your clothes. Then wash them thoroughly, and dry again.
Perform a thorough self-check as well, especially on your scalp, behind your ears, your armpits, your groin, between your toes, and behind your knees and ankles. Any skin fold can offer a cozy place for a tick to curl up and hide.
Be certain to also check your children and outdoor pets for ticks on a regular basis. Dogs, cats, and any other domestic animal that ventures outdoors can pick up ticks. They can then bring them inside your home, where the insects can be transferred onto furniture, and then onto human occupants. Talk to your veterinarian about tick bite protection in the form of chewable tablets, collards, sprays, or powders.
Effective Repellents and Other Protective Measures
It’s important to note that not all insect repellents are effective at fending off ticks. For example, the citronella that works wonders against mosquitoes and blackflies won’t do a thing. Look for insect repellents that contain DEET or Permethrin, and spray them on the outside of your clothes. Avoid direct skin contact.
In addition to using repellents on your clothing (and pets), good outdoor hygiene can make a world of difference. If you have a yard, try to keep it tidy and free from the debris that ticks thrive within. For example, keep your lawn mown low, and trim away any low-hanging shrub or tree branches. Rake away fallen leaves, and clear weeds from garden beds and paths.
Mulch and stone paths and barriers deter ticks, as they like moist, shaded areas. A three-foot-wide pathway will deter many ticks from coming near your home. Additionally, if you often get mice in or around your home, consider creating “tick tubes”. Fill empty cardboard paper towel or toilet paper rolls with cotton balls that have been soaked in Permethrin. This insecticide doesn’t hurt rodents, but is lethal to ticks. If mice gather the cotton for their nests, and ticks decide to follow them in, they’ll be killed.
Tick Bite Treatment
If you find a tick on your body (or anyone else’s), clean the area around the tick with soap, water, and rubbing alcohol or gel hand sanitizer. Then take a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and pull the tick straight out. Use steady, even pressure so it doesn’t leave broken mouth parts in the skin. Should any pieces break off, remove as many as possible. Then clean the area again with the same soap/water/alcohol or sanitizer protocol.
Place the tick in a sealed container or plastic zipper bag, and keep it in the freezer. On the off chance that you develop serious health issues from its bite, you’ll be able to give it to healthcare providers for testing.
Should you experience symptoms such as facial or lip swelling, fever, dizziness, headache, confusion, or joint pain, seek help immediately. Go to the closest emergency room with the tick that bit you, and tell them all of your symptoms. They can ensure that all of the tick pieces have been removed from your body, and start you on an antibiotic protocol.
Keep an eye on this map, which gets updated about surges in tick populations across the USA.
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Species that Naturally Repel Ticks
If you have a garden, you can plant some species that ticks do their best to avoid. For example, planting anything in the onion (Allium) family around the perimeter of your property can help a great deal. Ideal species include garlic chives, onions, green onions, garlic, and decorative alliums.
Additionally, herbs in the mint (Lamiaceae) family such as peppermint, spearmint, sage, thyme, lavender, lemon balm, oregano, bee balm, and rosemary are natural tick deterrents. These insects don’t like chrysanthemums or marigolds either. Planting these around your garden can reduce tick populations exponentially.
In terms of animal species, chickens are your best friends when it comes to tick control. A single chicken can eat up to 100 ticks a day! As such, if you’re allowed to raise chickens on your property, consider getting a couple. You can either enjoy their eggs or give them away, or give a non-laying rescue chicken a new, loving home. In return, they’ll obliterate the ticks they find in your lawn.
While tick season isn’t a fun thing to navigate, it doesn’t have to be scary. Just take proper precautions, be diligent, and protect yourself and your family as best you can.
Featured image by Erik Karits on Unsplash