Protect Yourself Against Ticks That Carry Lyme Disease

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University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences

First posted on 08-17-2010

Research on the population of black-legged ticks, which can transmit Lyme disease from host animals to humans, reinforces that it is important to take preventative measures when spending time outdoors.

University of Illinois graduate student Jennifer Rydzewski conducted a four-year survey of black-legged ticks (also known as deer ticks), their host animals, and their habitat preferences.

“Their small size makes ticks really difficult to see. They’re about the size of a poppy seed,” Rydzewski said.

“Ticks in the nymph stage of their life cycle are responsible for the most human cases of Lyme disease because their peak seasonal activity coincides with increased human activity outdoors during the warmer summer months, so it’s important for people to take extra precautions.”

In humans, early symptoms of Lyme disease are often nondescript, flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and fatigue, making it difficult to diagnose from symptoms alone. In about 70 percent of the cases, people will develop the typical bullseye-shaped rash associated with Lyme disease. If it’s caught in the early stages it can be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics; however, if it’s not treated early, the result can be long-term severe joint pain, arthritis and neurological damage. The disease is named after the town of Lyme, Connecticut, where a number of cases were identified in 1975.

The white-footed mouse is a particularly competent host at maintaining the bacteria in the environment. White-tailed deer and migratory birds are important dispersal agents for ticks as they’re capable of traveling long distances and depositing ticks in new areas.

There are some fairly easy preventative measures that individuals can take in order to prevent coming into contact with ticks:

♦ Wear light-colored clothing so it’s easy to see the ticks.

♦ Wear long sleeves and pants; tuck pants into socks or tape pants to boots.

♦ Use insect repellent containing DEET.

♦ Stay in the center of maintained trails.

♦ Perform frequent tick checks when you’re outside.

♦ Do a tick check at the end of the day and again the following morning.

♦ Put your clothes in the dryer when you come home to dry out and kill the ticks.

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