Types of Ticks and Diseases They Carry - Preventing Tick Bites

Understanding Ticks and the Illnesses They Transmit

Ticks are small parasitic organisms that feed on the blood of mammals, birds, and reptiles. While going about this feeding process, ticks can transmit dangerous diseases to humans, so it's important to take precautions against tick bites. Let's take a closer look at how to identify different types of ticks, the illnesses they may cause, and how to prevent exposure and transmission.

Why Ticks Pose Significant Health Risks

There are a few key reasons why ticks are considered especially problematic parasites:

• They feed slowly over several days while attached to hosts, allowing more time for disease transmission through saliva
• Many tick species prefer feeding on humans when given the opportunity
• Ticks can pick up disease-causing pathogens from other hosts and easily transmit them to humans
• The tiny size of ticks makes them difficult to notice while feeding, and easy to miss when removing

Common Tick-Borne Diseases

According to the CDC, over a dozen human diseases in the US may be transmitted by either ticks, fleas, or mosquitoes. However, below are some of the most common tick-specific illnesses to be aware of:

Lyme Disease

Caused by borrelia bacteria from ticks. Early symptoms include rash, chills, fever, and body aches. If untreated, later symptoms involving joints, neurological issues, and heart problems may appear.

Anaplasmosis

Caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacteria. Symptoms include high fever, muscle pain, nausea, and confusion. Dangerously low white blood cell and platelet counts may occur.

Ehrlichiosis

Bacterial disease with early flu-like symptoms. Can progress to respiratory distress, bleeding disorders, and organ damage without antibiotic treatment.

Babesiosis

A protozoan parasite infection often with mild symptoms, but may be severe or fatal for vulnerable groups. Look out for fever, chills, body aches, nausea, and fatigue.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)

Caused by Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria. Symptoms include fever, rash, abdominal pain, vomiting, and headache. Untreated cases can lead to organ damage and death.

Identifying Different Types of Ticks

Black-legged tick / deer tick

Most famous for transmitting Lyme disease. Very small in size even when engorged after feeding. Dark brown or black markings on reddish brown body.

Lone star tick

Named after the single white dot found on adult females. Implicated in ehrlichiosis, tularemia, STARI, and alpha-gal meat allergy. Less commonly carries the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.

Dog tick / wood tick

Larger tick with whitish coloring on upper body and legs. Adult females have grey markings on black shield-like area behind head. May transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia bacteria.

Brown dog tick

Parasitizes dogs and occasionally bites humans. Do not typically carry Lyme disease, but may transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and ehrlichiosis in addition to other animal disease-causing bacteria and protozoa.

Preventing Tick Bites and Tick-Borne Diseases

The best approach against illness-causing ticks is focusing on prevention. It is much easier to employ preventative measures rather than rely solely on recognizing tick bites after the fact and managing disease treatment. Some key prevention tips include:

• Avoid areas with high grass, brush, and leaf litter
• Use EPA approved tick repellent products on skin and clothing
• Treat dogs and outdoor pet areas as preventative measures
• Wear light colored clothing to spot ticks more easily
• Perform frequent body checks when in tick areas
• Shower soon after being outdoors to wash off stray ticks

What to Do If You Find an Attached Tick

If you discover an embedded tick, follow these guidelines from the CDC for safe removal to lower disease transmission chances:

1. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick close to your skin surface
2. Gently and steadily pull the tick straight out without twisting
3. Thoroughly clean the bite area then wash your hands
4. Do NOT try to burn or smother the tick while attached
5. Monitor for symptoms and save the tick if possible for later identification

If fever, rashes, or other concerning symptoms develop after a tick bite, promptly consult your healthcare provider for evaluation of potential tick-borne disease transmission.

Stay Vigilant Against Tick Bites and Associated Health Risks

Ticks can stealthily transmit a wide array of serious bacterial diseases, protozoan infections, and even novel alpha-gal meat allergies. But through attentive prevention measures, prompt tick removal, and close symptom monitoring you can keep risks low. Although tiny, ticks warrant big respect considering the debilitating illnesses they may cause.

However, by knowing what tick species to look out for, which diseases they may spread, and the best prevention tips to follow, you can continue enjoying outdoor activities relatively free of worry. Just be sure to always play defense against tick bites and quickly address any that do occur before they have extended time to transmit pathogens.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.