Summer Pests: Ticks, Mosquitoes, and Knowing When to Be Concerned

In Upstate New York, a variety of tick-borne diseases pose a significant health risk during the warmer months. The most prevalent of these is Lyme disease, transmitted primarily by the blacklegged (deer) tick. Early symptoms often include a rash called erythema migrans, which may appear as a bull's-eye or uniform red patch expanding over days, accompanied by fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. If left untreated, it can progress to more severe complications affecting joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

Other common tick-borne diseases in the region include babesiosis, anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Powassan virus disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Babesiosis is caused by a parasite affecting red blood cells and can present with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, sweats, fatigue, and anemia. Anaplasmosis and ehrlichiosis are bacterial infections causing fever, headache, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or cough.

Powassan virus disease is rare but more dangerous; it can transmit within 15 minutes of tick attachment. Symptoms range from fever and headache to severe neurological problems like encephalitis or meningitis. Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases in New York are very rare, but symptoms include fever, headache, rash, and muscle pain.

To help prevent tick bites and the resulting illnesses, several precautions can be taken. Wearing long pants, long-sleeve shirts, and tucking pants into socks can reduce skin exposure. Using tick repellents containing DEET or permethrin on clothing and exposed skin is also recommended. Avoiding high-risk areas like tall grass and dense shrubs, especially during peak tick seasons (spring and summer), is advisable.

Performing thorough tick checks on yourself, children, and pets after outdoor activities is essential, with early removal of ticks (within 24-36 hours for Lyme disease) reducing the chance of disease transmission. Maintaining yards by clearing leaf litter and keeping grass short can also help reduce tick habitats.

If you suspect a tick bite or experience symptoms like rash, fever, headache, and fatigue after potential exposure, prompt medical attention is advised.

For those traveling to malaria-endemic areas outside the US, it's important to consult a medical provider about preventative medications.

Mosquito-borne diseases like Zika virus, chikungunya virus, and dengue are uncommon in the United States (aside from Puerto Rico). However, simple precautions like applying bug repellant with more than 20 percent DEET, sticking to the middle of trails, and drying clothes in the dryer for an hour on high-heat can help prevent mosquito bites. Ensuring window and door screens are free of rips and tears and ridding the yard of stagnant water can also help keep mosquitos at bay.

In case assistance is needed in removing a tick, UR Medicine Urgent Care offers services in various locations across Upstate New York. For more information, visit their website or find a UR Medicine Urgent Care near you.

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