Hospital visits for tick bites spike in United States. What to know about ticks

Tick bites are sending more people to the hospital as nymphal tick season gets underway.

Visits to emergency rooms for tick bites are higher than normal in many parts of the United States, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an April 23 news release.

In all regions except the south central region, weekly rates of hospital visits for tick bites are the highest since 2017, the agency said.

Each year, an estimated 31 million people in the United States are bitten by a tick, the CDC said. Ticks can carry Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a tick bite.

Tick season in California runs from November to March for adult ticks and March to July for nymphal ticks, the California Department of Public Health said.

Nymphal ticks have a greater chance of carrying diseases, the agency said.

As the weather warms up, more people and their pets head out of doors, increasing their possible exposure to ticks.

Here’s what to know:

What should you know about ticks?

“Ticks are small, wingless bugs that usually live in the woods or tall grass,” the Cleveland Clinic said. “They bite people and animals to feed off of their blood.”

They can be tiny — about the size of poppy seeds — and hard to spot, the clinic said. You may not notice if one bites you, either.

“Unlike mosquitoes, ticks don’t just bite and run,” the clinic said. “They bury their heads into your skin. Then, they feed off your blood for hours or even days.”

Tick bites can transmit bacteria, parasites and viruses into your blood.

How can you stay safe from ticks?

The U.S. Forest Service cautions hikers to stay away from areas with high grass and leaf litter, and to hike in the middle of trails, to avoid ticks.

Here are some other tips from the Forest Service:

• Use repellent containing 20 percent or more DEET, picaridin, or IR3535.
• Treat clothing and other gear with products that contain permethrin to repel ticks.
• Bathe or shower after going inside to wash off or find ticks before they bite you.
• Check yourself for ticks using a hand-held or full-length mirror after returning from tick-infested areas.
• Put dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks after returning home.

Why are tick bites dangerous?

Tick bites are dangerous mainly because they can transmit diseases, Brown University Health said.

What diseases do ticks carry?

Ticks can carry a variety of diseases, with Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome among the most common, the CDC said.

Many tick-related illnesses have similar symptoms, including a fever or chills, aches and pains, and a rash, the agency said.

What does a tick bite look like?

A tick bite can look like a small pinprick or a black dot, or a lump that may be skin-colored, red, or brown, GoodRX said. Tick bites also may cause a blister, rash or small bruise.

What should you do if a tick bites you?

Wash your hands and the area around the bite, the Mayo Clinic said. Call your doctor if you develop a rash, flu-like signs and symptoms, or think the bite is infected.

Call 911 or your local emergency number if you develop a severe headache, difficulty breathing, paralysis or heart palpitations, the clinic said.

If you find a tick still attached to your skin, the CDC suggests you take these steps:

• Remove the tick as soon as possible. Don’t wait to go to a doctor.
• Grab the tick close to the head using tweezers or your fingers.
• Pull the tick away from your skin with steady, even pressure.
• Don’t twist or jerk the tick, which can cause the mouth to break off in your skin.
• Dispose of the live tick by putting it in a sealed container, wrapping it in tape, flushing it down the toilet or putting it in alcohol.
• Wash your hands and the bite area with soap and water.
• Check yourself for other ticks.

“Do not use petroleum jelly, heat, nail polish, or other substances to try and make the tick detach from the skin,” the CDC said. “This may agitate the tick and force infected fluid from the tick into the skin.”

How can you protect your pets from ticks?

Ticks also can transmit Lyme disease to dogs, the American Veterinary Medical Association said. Cats and horses also can be infected.

About 90% of dogs with Lyme disease show no symptoms, the association said.

Protect your pets from ticks with year-round prevention, including medications or collars, PetMD said. Consult your veterinarian for the best choice for your pet.

To check your dog for ticks, “skim your hands over their body and through their fur feeling for bumps or irregularities. Pay close attention around the ears, between toes, under the tail, around eyelids, and in their underarm/groin areas,” the site said.

Remove ticks using tweezers as described above.