Ticks may be prevalent in woodlands, grass

By My Courier-Tribune

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services are encouraging Missourians who are enjoying nature this spring to be watchful for ticks.

Most ticks are most active April through July and are found in woodlands, tall grasses, weeds and brushy areas.

According to the department of health, ticks are effective transmitters of disease because most ticks take blood from a large variety of small and large mammals, reptiles and even birds. In general, ticks must ingest a blood meal before they can molt and move to the next stage in their life cycle.

Many tick-borne diseases have been reported in Missouri: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, tularemia, Heartland virus, Bourbon virus, Lyme or a lyme-like disease and the southern tick-associated rash illness.

Tick-borne diseases are a type of emerging disease, many of them first recognized in the last 30 years, states the conservation department. Human case numbers per year for tick-borne diseases are generally on the rise.

“This upward trend is due to better recognition and disease reporting, but is also a reflection of changes in the environment that fosters increased exposure and transmission to humans,” states the conservation department. “Fortunately, not all ticks are infected. The state health department wants people to know that when they take precautions, they can reduce their chance of being bitten.”

Aiming for prevention

Understanding a little about tick behavior can give some clues on how to avoid being bitten.

“For example, one tried-and-true prevention measure is to walk in the center of trails to avoid overhanging brush and tall grass. This is effective because of the way some ticks seek a host, which is called questing,” reads a joint release from the departments. “A questing tick will perch itself, front legs extended, on the stems of grass, low brush or on the edges of leaves on the ground. Using this ambush strategy, the tick waits until a suitable host brushes against the vegetation. Ticks do not jump, fall or fly and are generally found within three feet of the ground.”

Carbon dioxide, which is exhaled while breathing, as well as heat and movement serve as stimuli for tick questing behavior. Using an insect repellent that contains DEET interferes with ticks’ ability to locate a person. Another repellant called permethrin, which is used on clothing, kills ticks as well as mosquitoes and chiggers. Permethrin products are designed to bind with fabric and persist through launderings when used according to label directions.

Once on a host, the tick seeks a place to attach and take a blood meal. Ticks attach on people in many places, but are most frequently found around the head, neck, underarms and groin.

“Light-colored clothing helps you spot ticks more easily and tucking or even taping your pant legs into your socks helps slow them down in their quest for your skin. Prompt, careful inspection and removal of ticks is an important method of preventing disease,” reads the joint release.

If you find an attached tick, it should be removed promptly.

“The longer it is attached the greater the risk of infection. To reduce the chance of disease transmission, use tweezers around the area where the tick’s mouth parts enter the skin. Then use a slow, steady motion when pulling the tick a way from the skin. After removing the tick, disinfect the skin with soap and water or other available disinfectants,” reads the release.

Signs and symptoms of tickborne disease

The signs and symptoms of tick-borne disease vary among individuals and differ according to the infecting agent. In general, a person should consider consulting a health care provider whenever he or she experiences a sudden high fever, severe headache, muscle or joint aches, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

If these symptoms occur following a tick bite, or even after exposure to a tick habitat, the health care provider should be informed of this fact.

Another possible sign of tick-borne disease is a rash or pus-filled wound that appears at the site of a tick bite or a spreading rash that follows a tick bite or exposure to tick habitat.