Spring is known for sunshine, swimming pools and the blooming great outdoors. Spring is also known for an increase in the number of creepy crawlies and plenty of bug bites to go with them. One particularly nasty bug that becomes noticeable in the spring but is seldom talked about is the tick. Although ticks don’t jump or fly they can attach themselves to humans and potentially cause harmful diseases; however, little is known about them. In an effort to better understand ticks and the diseases they can transmit to humans the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Pubic Health has partnered with The University of Georgia (UGA) and the Georgia Poison Center (GPC) to conduct a Tick Attach Study and the public’s help is needed.

“We need for anyone who has a tick attached to them to call the Georgia Poison Center at 404-616-9000 or 800-222-1222 and arrange to have the tick mailed to us,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, acting director of Public Health. “The more ticks we receive, the greater our opportunity to learn where ticks are biting people in Georgia and if they are carrying disease-causing organisms.”

People who submit ticks for testing will receive a phone call in about three weeks from the health department asking about their exposure to tick habitats and whether or not they have developed any symptoms of a tick-borne illness. Brown added that the public’s help is needed to assist in the study and only ticks that have been attached to humans should be submitted.

There are hundreds of species of ticks but only a few commonly bite humans in Georgia: the American dog tick, the lone star tick and the black-legged tick. These three species can carry five

diseases that are harmful to humans: Lyme disease (black-legged tick); Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia (American dog tick); Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI) and human monocytic ehrlichiosis (lone star tick). Most cases of tick-borne disease in Georgia occur between April and September but infection can occur year round.

“Although each disease has unique characteristics, generally symptoms of tick-borne disease can occur anywhere from 3 or 4 days to 4 weeks after being bitten and may include fever, rash, headache, and muscle pain,” said Brown. “Not everyone develops all of these symptoms, and some people develop other symptoms like nausea, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and weakness.”

Ticks are commonly found in shady areas, moist ground litter, tall grass, brush, low tree branches, and along trails in the woods. They can also be found in backyards that back up to woody areas added Brown.

Removing the Tick

Grasp the tick as close to the skin surface as possible with fine-tipped tweezers. Pull the tick straight out slowly. Wash and treat the bite area with a disinfectant. DO NOT squeeze the tick, twist the tick, light the tick on fire, or cover the tick in petroleum jelly, nail polish, alcohol, or kerosene. These “home remedies” may increase the chances of transmitting the bacteria and becoming infected with a tick-borne illness. Save the tick and call the Georgia Poison Center at 404-616-9000 or 1-800-222-1222 for information about tick identification and testing.

Preventing Tick Bites

The best thing you can do to avoid being bitten by a tick is:

· Wear insect repellent containing DEET on your skin

· Wear insect repellent containing permethrin on your clothes (not on skin)

· Tuck pants into socks and shirt into pants so ticks can’t crawl up pants legs

· Wear light-colored clothing so ticks can be seen easily and removed

· Wear a hat and pull long hair back

· Do tick checks frequently during the day and a full body tick check at the end of the day. Use a mirror and check behind ears, behind knees, underarms, and groin. Ask someone to help you check your back and scalp, especially the nape of the neck. Take a shower and wash your hair before going to bed.

· Do not sit directly on the ground—use a blanket or towel

· Remove excess brush and keep grass mowed around the house



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