North Country Health
Tickborne Illness Awareness-Prevention-Recognize Signs and Symptoms
A tick-borne illness is an infection spread through the bite of an infected tick. Common tick-borne diseases in the Minnesota include Lyme Disease, Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis. Most tick bites do not result in disease, but it is a good idea to recognize and watch for the early symptoms of the more commonly encountered tickborne diseases in Minnesota.
Lyme disease is the most common tickborne disease reported in Minnesota and cases of Lyme disease have been increasing in recent years. Some people may notice a bull’s-eye rash surrounding the area where the tick was attached, especially with Lyme Disease, but not everyone develops a rash.
Anaplasmosis, formerly known as ehrlichiosis is a bacterial disease that was first recognized in Minnesota in the early 1990s. It is transmitted to people by blacklegged ticks (deer ticks), the same ticks that transmit Lyme disease.
Babesiosis infection occurs infrequently in Minnesota. It is also transmitted to people by blacklegged ticks (deer ticks), but it less common than both Lyme disease and anaplasmosis.
Symptoms of a tick-borne illness can appear within days or weeks after a tick bite. Common signs and symptoms include fever and chills, headache, fatigue or weakness, muscle aches and joint pain, rash or redness on the skin, swollen lymph nodes, nausea or loss of appetite, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light and confusion in severe cases. Seek medical care if symptoms develop after spending time outdoors or after finding a tick on the body. Early treatment can help prevent serious complications.
How do you prevent being exposed by an infected tick? You can help prevent tick-borne illnesses by avoiding tick bites and checking for ticks after spending time outdoors. Common prevention tips include wearing long sleeves, long pants, and closed-toe shoes in wooded or grassy areas. Tucking your pants into socks to keep ticks from reaching the skin and use insect repellents that contain DEET or picaridin on the skin and permethrin on clothing. When you have been in areas of tall grass and brush check your entire body for ticks. Common places for ticks to hide are under your arms, behind the knees, around the waist, in the hair and behind the ears. Shower soon after coming indoors. If you find an attached tick, promptly remove it with a find-tipped tweezer by pulling straight upward without twisting. Wash your outdoor clothing in hot water and dry on high heat to kill any ticks that may have come in on your clothes. Protect pets with veterinarian-approved tick prevention products. (Minn Dept of Health-Tickborne Disease and CDC)
To learn more, check out the Tickborne page at the Minnesota Department of Health website: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/tickborne/index.html
Submitted by: North Country Community Health Services and Beltrami County Community Health Services- www.ncchb.org or www.co.beltrami.mn.us/services/public-health/ or find us on Facebook-North Country Community Health Services
(Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard and Lake of the Woods Public Health)