The abnormally cold winter we had means ticks will be worse this year than we have seen in quite some time. Because ticks spend the winter deep in the soil that is not usually affected by the cold, they have had more time to breed and that means they are now out in force.

Ticks, while small, are definitely mighty. They carry Lyme disease, which is caused by borrelia burgdorferi bacteria and is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected black legged tick. According to the Center for Disease Control, the black legged tick, more commonly known as the deer tick, is much smaller than the common dog tick.

The larval and nymph phase of the black legged tick life cycle they are smaller than the head of a pin. Most humans are infected through the bite of nymph tick, which are smaller than 2 mm and difficult to see. The tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours to transmit disease.

The Kosciusko County Health Department has an increase of suspected Lyme cases reported in 2014.  The cases are under investigation and are not confirmed at this time, but the Kosciusko County Health Department is asking residents and visitors to take preventive measures to protect against tick bites. Testing to evaluate the prevalence of ixodes scapularis in Kosciusko County is planned.

Lyme disease symptoms can be vague and hard to identify. Teresa Reed is the Communicable Disease Nurse for the Kosciusko County Health Department. She said common symptoms can include a fever, headache and fatigue. A characteristic rash, called erythema migrans, often called a bulls-eye rash can also occur.

If Lyme disease is not treated it can spread though a person’s body and symptoms can develop in joints, the nervous system and heart. Early treatment for Lyme disease involves a short course of antibiotics; more advanced cases of Lyme disease require more complex and longer treatment.

Patient should be evaluated based on their condition and on the risk factors such as exposure to wooded areas. Lab testing can be helpful, but is not perfect in determining Lyme disease and it can be complex to understand the results.

People can help protect against tick bites is by avoiding tick prone areas. Ticks like high grass and low shrubs to wait for an animal or human to pass. Wearing long pants and long sleeves, shoes that cover the entire foot and wearing head covering in wooded areas can help reduce tick exposure. Stuffing pants into sock top reduce a path to human skin.

Light colored clothing may allow for identification of ticks. Also, wearing a repellant with DEET according to manufacturer recommendations may help reduce tick exposure. After being in potentially tick infested areas, bathing and a body check may identify ticks before they can transmit disease.

Pets should have a program for tick management. This can reduce the risk of illness for both animals and humans. Dogs can become ill with Lyme disease and display arthritis-like pain in joints. Animals can also bring ticks into the home where humans can be bitten.

Landscaping measures can also help to reduce the risk of tick exposure.  Grass should be kept trimmed. Underbrush and leaf litter should be managed in shady areas. Also reducing rodent populations, which can provide the ticks required blood meals may decrease tick populations.