J. L. Graham, SurfKY News
Apr 06
|20:21 PM
KENTUCKY
(4/6/12) – If you have spent much time in the Kentucky outdoors this
year, or have an outdoor pet, you will have, no doubt, noticed the
massive amount of ticks that are already making an appearance throughout
the region. This is very unusual, as ticks are usually not abundant
until mid-April to mid-March. Even without the factor of the unusually
early appearance, the numbers of ticks this year are unusually high.The reasoning behind this is, without a doubt, a mix between the extremely mild winter we have experienced during the 2011, 2012 cold-weather season, as well as the early spring-like weather. There are a number of risks that come along with this type of explosion in the tick population.
Initially, the most prominent issue is that of Lyme disease. Lyme disease is the most common arthropod-borne disease in the nation. Quite often, Lyme disease is not detected until it becomes severe, as the symptoms of this tick-borne illness are very similar to those of an illness that is quite common this time of year, flu. The symptoms encompass swollen glands in the neck or pelvis area, soreness in the muscular system throughout the body, headaches, and just general weariness.
According to the Kentucky Department of Health services, in one five-year-period, over fifty cases were detected in the state of Kentucky. It’s important to realize that humans are not the only potential victims of Lyme disease. Pets can get it as well.
Another danger is general infections. If you do not treat a tick bite immediately after removing the tick, you are easily leaving yourself open to the chance of what could inevitably become a severe infection. When you remove a tick from yourself, a child, or a pet, it is very important that you treat the wound immediately with peroxide or some form of antiseptic. Also, be sure and bandage the wound and watch it closely until it is gone. Retreat it with the antiseptic if you do not start healing after the first couple of days.
There is another dangerous disease that results from tick bites. This one, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, is often mistaken to be the same as Lyme disease. Despite popular assumptions that they are the same, these two diseases are actually extremely different. In reality, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is potentially more dangerous, possibly even deadly, than Lyme disease.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever does have similar symptoms as Lyme disease, but the long-term effect can be far worse. Another prominent symptom of this disease is a rash that will suddenly appear, along with the aforementioned symptoms. Also, extremely high fevers are a key factor in diagnosing this disease. On an annual basis, around 20 cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are reported in the state of Kentucky.
The best way to avoid these illnesses is to know where the ticks are, and inspect yourself, children and pets when you have went to these areas. Ticks are most prominent in heavily wooded areas, brushy areas with thick foliage, and fields with high weeds. After being in these types of areas, even if it is only for a few seconds, you should check yourself from head to toe.
If you do find a tick, don’t fall back to the popular archaic manners in which to remove them. Simply make sure that you have a grip on them as close to the skin as possible, best done with tweezers, and slowly pull directly away from the point of connection until the tick pulls loose. Then medicate the area immediately. Most ticks do not transmit diseases unless they are attached for 24 hours or more. This is not true in all cases, but in the majority.
There are many products for humans to spray upon themselves to repel ticks, as well as other insects. Nevertheless, do not ever assume that these will always work. Regardless of the products you use on yourself, your children, or your pets, check yourselves regularly just to be safe.
J.L. Graham
SurfKY News
Partial Information provided by the University of Kentucky Entomology Department
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