 Many of us know
the feeling when you suddenly discover that the little mole
or freckle you’ve been scratching starts to move. It’s a
tick! Those creepy little creatures that appear during the
warm weather months on the East Coast can cause serious
illness when they bite. The Virginia Department of Health
advises it’s best to avoid being bitten by a tick.
"If they’re
infected, several different kinds of ticks can be
responsible for transmitting the bacteria that cause a
number of diseases, so it’s best to take precautions to
avoid tick bites in the first place," advises Suzanne R.
Jenkins, VMD, MPH, Assistant State Epidemiologist.
The tiny brown
deer tick was the source of 73 reported cases of Lyme
disease last year in Virginia. So far this year, 17 cases of
Lyme disease have been reported in what is still early in
tick season. Another variety found in Virginia, the American
dog tick can carry an organism causing Rocky Mountain
spotted fever. Scientists suspect the Lone Star tick, with
its characteristic white spot on the back, and the deer tick
are responsible for transmitting the two forms of
ehrlichiosis that have been reported in the U.S. And, bites
from several different ticks can lead to tularemia (Rabbit
fever).
A bite by an
infected tick can prove costly to a person’s health. Lyme
disease, which usually causes a telltale rash shaped like a
bull’s-eye around the bite, also can cause symptoms such as
fever, chills and headache. If untreated in the early
stages, Lyme disease can lead to arthritis or other
long-term health or mental complications. Lyme disease is
not known to be fatal, but Rocky Mountain spotted fever can
prove deadly if untreated. Antibiotics are always effective
methods of treatment if begun early enough, and for this
reason Jenkins recommends seeing a doctor as soon as
tick-related illness is suspected.
Another way to
avoid getting sick is a "tick check" immediately after being
outdoors. "The length of time a tick is attached is a factor
in avoiding disease," Jenkins says. "An infected deer tick
has to be attached for at least 36 hours before it can
transmit Lyme disease, but the infected dog tick only needs
to be attached for 4-6 hours to cause Rocky Mountain spotted
fever."
According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Virginia is a
low-risk state for Lyme disease. Fewer infected ticks in
this state mean fewer cases of reported disease. Virginia’s
number of reported cases in 1998 was 1.16 per 100,000
people, while the national average for Lyme disease cases
was 4.7 per 100,000 people. By comparison the northeastern
U.S. has a much higher number of reported Lyme disease
cases, ranging up to 70.23 per 100,000 people in
Connecticut.
"If you’re
planning an outdoor vacation in the Northeast as well as
engaging in outdoor activity here in Virginia where infected
ticks may be lurking, you should take precautions," Jenkins
says. "Wearing long pants, tucking the legs inside your
socks and avoiding walking unprotected in overgrown grassy
areas or dense woods are some of the ways to avoid tick
bites."
Other
suggestions on how to best avoid becoming a tick’s next
snack include
- wearing light colored clothing
so ticks can be easily spotted and removed,
- wearing long-sleeved shirts
buttoned at the wrists,
- checking pets for ticks and
- using insect repellant.
For people with
frequent or prolonged exposure in areas where infected ticks
are prevalent, a new vaccine on the market may offer an
option to avoid one of the tickborne diseases. However, in
just-released guidelines, the CDC recommends vaccine only
for those at greatest risk of Lyme disease infection, such
as some outdoor workers and those who live or recreate in
higher risk areas. Currently, the cost is about $250 for
three doses of vaccine given over a year’s time, and
insurance coverage varies. The vaccine, which is less than
100 percent effective, is not recommended by the CDC for
children under 15, adults over 70 or pregnant women.
Finally, if you
are bitten by a tick, how you remove it can increase or
decrease chances of infection.
The proper way
to remove a tick is by grasping it with tweezers as close to
the skin as possible and gently but firmly pulling it
straight out. If tweezers aren’t available, don’t touch the
tick with bare fingers. Use a paper towel, gloves or a
tissue. The disease-causing organism can enter the
bloodstream through any break in the skin.
After removing
the tick, wash your hands with soap and warm water and apply
an antiseptic, such as alcohol or iodine, to the bite. Nail
polish, petroleum jelly, alcohol or a hot match are not safe
removal methods.
To identify the
tick, you can take it to a county extension agent.
For more
information about diseases caused by ticks, call your local
health department or visit the VDH website at
http://www.vdh.state.va.us.
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