Ticks, Ticks, Ticks

It's officially "tick season." Soon after I started asking people in the Scarsdale area if they've ever found a tick attached to them, I realized that virtually everyone has experienced this gnarly phenomenon. Ticks are very common in the Hudson Valley and many species of ticks that live (and thrive) here are known for carrying tick-borne diseases that can be transmitted to humans. In fact, the CDC cites Lyme disease as "...the most rapidly emerging infections disease and the leading cause of insect-borne illnesses."

Joanne Wallenstein, the founder of www.scarsdale10583.com has had two attached ticks and she is pretty sure she got them both out in the Hamptons. "My aunt has a small, furry dog that probably sent them my way," she said. "In both instances, a few days after I cam home, I found a black dot that I couldn't peel off." My family and I just came back from a camping trip and we found several ticks on us of varying sizes. They can be as small as a speck of pepper and as large as a pencil eraser when they are engorged with your blood.

Here are the most common questions that came up about these nasty little arachnids along with their researched answers.

Why are ticks such a threat in our area?
Several species of ticks commonly found in our area can cause a host of diseases including Lyme disease, Powassan, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, relapsing fever, and/or erlichiosis. The severity of these diseases ranges from mild to life threatening and even fatal. Some tick-borne diseases have the potential to lead to long-term neurological, cardiac, muscular, and eye issues that may not be treatable or curable. The Scarsdale/Southern Westchester area is wooded, has low lying grasslands, and is filled with front yards and back yards, all of which represent ticks' favorite spots to hang out and breed.

What should you do if you find a tick on yourself?
I spoke with Dr. Judy Stone, an experienced infectious disease doctor who has removed many ticks from herself and her husband. "There's a video on www.tickencounters.org that shows you how to properly remove a tick yourself with a pair of tweezers," she said. "It's no longer recommended that you burn it off or suffocate it with petroleum jelly," she added. Joanne Wallenstein preferred going to a dermatologist to have her ticks removed, but that requires getting an appointment with one, something that can take a while in this area unless you have a previous relationship. (They're busy with botox these days!) Joanne's doctor sent the ticks off to be tested for Lyme immediately. You can also send a tick off for testing on your own, according to Dr. Stone. The Tick Encounter Resource Center (TERC) will test your tick for various diseases for about $50 per tick. You can also send them a photo of the tick you found on you to start and they will tell you what kind of tick it is and how long it has been attached. This can help you gauge if you should have the tick tested or not. "If the tick was attached for less than 24 hours and you're asymptomatic, you do not need to go to the doctor," said Dr. Stone. "No treatment is necessary. However, 200 mg of doxycycline is effective for prophylaxis for Lyme (preventing you from getting the full blown disease) if taken within 2-3 days of the bite. It is not enough if you are symptomatic." Joanne took doxycycline both times for two weeks even though one of her ticks came back negative for carrying Lyme disease and she has remained asymptomatic. Remember, a Lyme positive tick newly attached (less than 24 hours) cannot transmit the disease so no treatment is necessary. Always kill the tick in alcohol and save it. Be sure to wash the area out well with soap and water.

What are signs and symptoms of a tick-borne disease in a person and how is it diagnosed?
These are variable since there are so many different diseases ticks in this area can transmit. The most common one, Lyme, is often identified by a bulls-eye rash but not always. If a person has been outside in woodsy or grassy areas and has any of the following symptoms, it's a good idea to see a doctor: rash lasting up to a few weeks (it can look like a bulls-eye or even just like hives, eczema, flea bites, or poison ivy and may or may not itch), flu like symptoms, a fever, weakness, headaches, or neurological symptoms like weakening of the facial muscles. Months or years later, a person can experience arthritis, numbness, concentration and memory issues, and difficulties with speech. Diagnosis of a tick-borne disease like Lyme is very difficult without a history of a tick bite. Serological tests can be run but are unreliable.

What can I do to protect myself and my kids from ticks?
The CDC recommends walking in the center of trails, bathing as soon as you come indoors and checking all people and pets for ticks, dressing in light clothing for hikes, wearing close-toed shoes and socks, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants tucked into socks if hiking. It is especially important to check behind their knees, on their scalp and neck, armpits and groin area, and anywhere that clothing puts pressure on their skin. Insect repellant that contains DEET (less than 30% is recommended for use on kids) is effective at repelling ticks but not at killing them and it is only effective on bare skin. Permethrin, on the other hand, kills ticks and can be used on clothes. Dr. Stone believes Permethrin treated clothes and shoes are the safest and most effective way to prevent ticks along with tick checks several times a day. "Treating clothes with Permethrin or buying pre-treated clothes is a good idea if you're going to be in tick-infested areas," she suggested. If you're worried about chemical exposure, TERC has a permethrin exposure calculator that will quell your fears immediately in terms of how little absorption occurs with Permethrin-treated clothes. (For example, a 125 lb. adult wearing a treated shirt, pair of pants, and socks would have to wear 1,817 of those items all at once to reach the EPA's daily dermal No Observable Effect level!) You can spray your yard but few sprays and techniques have been found to be effective at tick reduction.

What resources can I access for more information?
Tick Encounter Resource Center (TERC)
Westchester County Tick-borne Disease Info Line: 914-813-LYME
CDC