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Temperatures are not the only thing on the rise in recent weeks. Encounters with ticks are skyrocketing. Last weekend after a short adventure in the woods, I removed thirteen ticks from my clothing and person. Later, one more was discovered and removed by a spotter in a place beyond my field of vision during a “post-outing” inspection. Most of the ticks were black-legged ticks, a.k.a. deer ticks. This parasite is one of the important carriers of Lyme disease in our region. Lyme disease can be a serious debilitating disease, caused by a bacterium transmitted from mammals like mice to humans by the tick. The northeastern region of the United States is a hotbed for black-legged ticks and often leads the nation in the annual number of cases of Lyme disease. A second tick in my trio of trouble was the American dog tick. American dog tick and its cousin, Rocky Mountain wood tick, are the vectors of another serious disease called Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Although spotted fever is less common than Lyme disease, it is potentially life threatening. Contrary to the implication of its name, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is common east of the Rockies in states lining the Mississippi and in the Carolinas. The third master of misery I found on my walk was the lone star tick. Lone star tick has been implicated in transmitting several illnesses including one known as Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness (STARI). Symptoms of STARI include a rash, fever, fatigue, and pain in muscles and joints. Unlike Lyme disease, chronic arthritis and neurological problems have not been linked to this disease. To reduce the risks of becoming a meal for a tick and the unfortunate recipient of Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, or STARI, consider the following. If you enter habitats where wildlife and ticks are found such as grassy meadows, the boarders of fields and woodlands, and vegetation along the banks of streams, wear long pants and light colored clothing. This will help you spot ticks on your clothes as they move up your body. Tuck your pant legs into your socks. This forces ticks to move up rather than under your cloths. Perform a thorough tick inspection of yourself and your family if you have been in tick habitats. This may involve enlisting a helper to view those "hard to see" areas around back. Apply repellents to exposed skin. Several repellents such as those containing DEET are available and very effective in preventing ticks from attaching. If repellents are used, be sure to read the label and follow directions carefully, particularly, heed cautions related to children. Some repellents may be applied to clothing before they are worn. If you find a tick attached to your skin, using a pair of fine forceps, firmly grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible and using slow, steady force, pull the tick out. Cleanse the area with antiseptic. In the case of Lyme disease it may take more than a day for infected ticks to transmit the disease. Prompt removal can greatly decrease your risk of contracting a disease. Methods of tick removal such as smearing the tick with petroleum jelly or scorching its rear end with a match don't work. Cases of tick borne illness peak in summer and children are the most common recipients of many of these diseases. So, take special care to keep your kids safe when they play outdoors.

Special thanks to Adam who was the inspiration for this episode. To learn more about ticks and diseases they carry, please visit the following web sites.

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