Emergency room visits related to tick bites have surged to their highest level in the United States in nearly a decade, according to federal data. Tick season typically runs from April to September, peaking in May, but a warming climate has extended the season and expanded the range of ticks northward. Experts warn that the worst may be yet to come as summer approaches and more people spend time outdoors.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the most well-known tick-borne illness, with approximately 476,000 new cases each year in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is spread only by black-legged ticks and can be fatal, though deaths are rare. Symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic bullseye rash. Treatment with antibiotics like doxycycline is effective if administered early.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is the deadliest tick disease in the U.S., with a mortality rate of 3-5% among infected patients. It is spread by American dog ticks, brown dog ticks, and Rocky Mountain wood ticks. Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, and a red rash that may appear as pinpoint dots or splotches. Without treatment within eight days of infection, the disease can be fatal. Doxycycline is the recommended antibiotic.
Powassan Virus
Powassan virus is a rare but severe illness spread by black-legged ticks in the Northeast and Great Lakes region. It kills one in ten people who develop severe symptoms, and half of survivors suffer long-term effects such as loss of muscle mass and recurring headaches. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, and swelling around the brain and spinal cord, leading to seizures, confusion, and loss of coordination. No vaccines or treatments are available.
Anaplasmosis
Anaplasmosis is spread by black-legged and western black-legged ticks, primarily in the East and West Coast. Symptoms are similar to Powassan virus and can lead to organ and respiratory failure. However, it is treatable with doxycycline, and patients often feel better within 24 hours. The mortality rate is low at 0.5%. Anaplasmosis is also common in dogs, and cases are expected to rise this year.
Babesiosis
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease that attacks blood cells and has a death rate of up to 9% in healthy patients and over 20% in immunocompromised individuals. It is found in the Upper Midwest, Northeast, and West Coast. Symptoms appear weeks to months after a bite. The disease can also be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy or through blood transfusions. Treatment involves a 7-10 day course of atovaquone and azithromycin.
Prevention Tips
To reduce the risk of tick bites, avoid wooded and grassy areas, wear long-sleeved fitted clothing when hiking, and check pets for ticks. Dr. Robert Smith from the MaineHealth Institute for Research advises that finding ticks on pets is a good indicator of risk for humans, as they likely share the same environment.
