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Health & Fitness

Ticks and Disease

Warmer weather and longer days mean more people are enjoying the great outdoors.  However, spring is also prime time for ticks.  These tiny, biting creatures feed on warm-blooded animals, including people, and can transmit serious illness through their bites.  Those illnesses include infections, skin rashes, and Lyme disease.  Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in Maryland and the United States, according to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Ticks usually live on tall grass and in wooded areas, but also can be brought into your home by pets or on clothing.  While it’s a good idea to take precautions year-round, you should be extra cautious during warmer months when ticks are most active.  Lyme disease symptoms usually appear in one to two weeks after a bite and include:

  • Bulls-eye rash (erythema migrans)
  • Fever 
  • Muscle and joint pain
  • Fatigue 

A few precautions can help you avoid tick bites while working or playing outside:

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  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck your pants into your socks.
  • Avoid sitting on the ground.
  • Remove and inspect your clothing after leaving a possible tick-infested area.
  • Conduct a full-body inspection of yourself, your children and your pets.

If you find a tick crawling on your skin, it can simply be brushed away.  If a tick bites you, remove it as quickly and carefully as possible.  Grab the tick with tweezers where it is attached to your skin and pull gently until the tick is removed.  Be careful not to squeeze the tick. Wash your hands and the affected area with soap and water after removal.  If you are not able to remove the tick completely, contact your doctor. 

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