Tick Season: What to Know

Summer has arrived in the mountains of Western North Carolina, and unfortunately, it brings an uptick in tick bites for those enjoying the great outdoors.

“Here at Mercy, we’re already beginning to see a rise in tick-related visits for the season,” said Grace Barnwell FNP-C, COHN, Mercy’s vice president of operations. “And with growing evidence that tick-borne illnesses like Lyme disease are becoming more common throughout the region, it’s important to be even more vigilant.”

To help keep our community safe, we’ve answered a list of frequently asked questions about tick bites, prevention strategies warning signs of tick-borne illness and when to seek medical care.

Let’s start with the basics: Why are ticks a concern in Western North Carolina — especially during the summer months? What diseases do they potentially carry?

Ticks are common throughout Western North Carolina, and people tend to encounter them more frequently during the warmer months because they are spending more time outdoors hiking, gardening, camping and enjoying other recreational activities. Ticks are active from early spring through fall, but their activity often peaks during the summer months.

While most tick bites do not result in illness, some ticks can carry bacteria, viruses and other pathogens that cause disease. In North Carolina, some of the more common tick-borne illnesses include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease. Although Lyme disease is less common in North Carolina than in the Northeast and upper Midwest, cases do occur, and awareness is still important.

Are there certain activities or environments where people are more likely to encounter ticks, and what are some of the best ways people can protect themselves from tick bites?

Ticks are most commonly found in wooded areas, tall grass, leaf litter and areas where forests meet lawns or trails. Activities like hiking, gardening, camping, hunting, fishing or simply walking through overgrown yards can increase the chance of exposure.

The best protection is prevention. Wearing long sleeves and long pants, tucking pant legs into socks and choosing light-colored clothing can make it easier to spot ticks before they attach. Using an EPA-registered insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin or other recommended ingredients can help prevent bites, and treating clothing and outdoor gear with permethrin provides additional protection.

It’s also important to perform a thorough tick check after spending time outdoors. Pay special attention to areas like the scalp, behind the ears, under the arms, around the waist, behind the knees and around the groin. Showering soon after coming indoors may also help remove ticks before they attach.

What should a person do if they find a tick attached to their skin? Is there a recommended removal technique?

If you find an attached tick, remove it as soon as possible. The recommended method is to use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. Avoid twisting, jerking or crushing the tick, as this can cause parts of the tick to remain in the skin or increase exposure to infectious material.

After removal, wash the bite area and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.

Avoid folk remedies such as applying petroleum jelly, nail polish, essential oils or heat to make the tick detach. These methods are not effective and may actually cause the tick to release more saliva or infectious material into the skin.

If they are having trouble removing the tick themselves, what should they do?

If the tick is difficult to remove, if part of the tick remains embedded in the skin, or if the person cannot safely remove it themselves, they should contact their primary care provider or visit an urgent care clinic like Mercy for assistance. Our healthcare providers can remove ticks and help determine whether any additional evaluation or treatment is needed.

After a tick bite, what symptoms should people watch for, and when should they seek medical attention?

Many tick bites cause no symptoms beyond mild redness or irritation at the site, but people should monitor themselves for signs of illness over the following days to weeks.

Symptoms that should prompt medical attention include fever, chills, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes or a rash. A spreading rash — particularly a bull’s-eye pattern, associated with Lyme disease — or a rash involving the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, which can occur with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, should be evaluated promptly.

People should also seek medical care if they develop severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, confusion, persistent high fever or significant weakness.

Are children, older adults or certain other groups at greater risk for complications from tick-borne illnesses?

Anyone can develop a tick-borne illness, but certain groups may be at higher risk for severe complications. Young children, older adults, people with weakened immune systems and individuals with underlying health conditions may have a harder time fighting infections.

Prompt recognition and treatment are important for everyone, but especially for those at higher risk. Many tick-borne diseases respond well to antibiotics when diagnosed early, so it is important not to ignore symptoms that develop after a tick bite or outdoor exposure.

What are some common misconceptions you hear about ticks or tick bites that you’d like to clear up?

Not every tick carries a disease — and most bites don’t require antibiotics. In fact, preventive antibiotics are only recommended in certain situations.

Sometimes, we hear patients assume you can only get tick bites while deep in the woods. But ticks can be found in neighborhood yards, parks, gardens and along the edges of trails, so people should take precautions anytime they spend time in grassy or wooded areas.

People also sometimes believe they will always know if they have been bitten, but ticks can be very small, and their bites are often painless. That’s why routine tick checks after outdoor activities are such an important habit.