With the warmth come the ticks

Carlton County Public Health and Human Services is reminding residents to be on the lookout for ticks as warmer temperatures finally come to the region. A variety of diseases are spread by ticks in Minnesota.

"You can decrease your chance of being exposed to tick-borne disease by knowing what to look for and taking a few preventative steps," said public health nurse Jenny Barta.

The blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick, is the main tick of public health concern as it causes the most disease in Minnesota. It is 3-5 millimeters in length with a flat, oval shaped body, eight legs, and dark, reddish brown to black coloring.

The American dog tick, also called the wood tick, is 5-15 millimeters in length with a brown and red dotted body and eight legs. Bites from the American dog tick are common, but they rarely spread disease.

People who work and play outside are at a higher risk of getting diseases from tick bites. The county office offered several tips on lowering the risk for tick-borne disease:

• Be aware. Ticks can be active anytime temperatures are above freezing and there is little to no snow on the ground. They can be found in wooded and brushy areas, as well as more open, grassy habitats.

• Use a tick repellant registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Look for an EPA registration number on the packaging. Products containing permethrin, which are used on clothing and gear, are especially recommended for people who spend a lot of time in wooded areas. Do not use permethrin on your skin.

Standard DEET-based products in concentrations up to 30 percent are safe for adults and children, but do not use DEET for infants under two months old.

• Check yourself and your children for ticks after coming indoors. Bathe or shower to wash off and more easily find ticks. Search your entire body closely, especially hard-to-see areas like in and around ears and hair, behind knees, under arms, and around the groin area.

• If you find a tick, remove it as soon as possible. Prompt removal can lower the risk of tick-borne disease transmission. Use a pair of tweezers or your fingers to grasp the tick by the head, close to the skin. Pull the tick outward slowly, gently, and steadily. Clean the area with soap and water.

Lyme

Not all ticks carry disease, and not all bites from infected ticks will result in disease transmission. Lyme disease is the most often reported tick-borne disease in Minnesota.

Early signs usually appear within 30 days of being infected and include:

• Rash. May look like a bull's-eye, or a red ring with a clear center that may grow to several inches in width. May not be itchy or painful. Not everyone gets or sees a rash and not all rashes look like a bull's-eye.

• Fever or chills.

• Muscle or joint pain.

• Headache.

• Tiredness or weakness.

Other diseases may cause similar symptoms. Contact a doctor immediately if you think you may have a tick-borne disease.

Find out more at:

• Minnesota Department of Health: http://www.health.state.mn.us/

diseases/tickborne/index.html

• Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/index.html