Ticks are out in force across Wisconsin right now. Here's what to do after a tick bite
Ticks are wreaking havoc across Wisconsin resulting in some of the highest rates of tick-borne diseases across the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.
These pests are usually active in Wisconsin from May to November. But ticks are starting to make their appearance earlier than previous years as Wisconsin experiences warmer winters, according to the state Department of Health Services.
While ticks are active, Wisconsinites can contract Lyme disease, a bacterial infection spread by deer ticks. Reported cases of Lyme disease have more than doubled over the past 15 years. In 2022, Wisconsin had 5,327 reported cases of Lyme disease according to DHS. But the actual number of Lyme disease cases in Wisconsin is likely to be higher than reported.
It's very possible you'll encounter a tick outside this summer, so we decided to put together a guide so you'll know what to do if you spot one on your skin.
Where are ticks in Wisconsin?
Ticks usually live in shady wooded areas and will cling to tall grass and plants. In the past three decades, they've really expanded their range farther into southern parts of the state, including Milwaukee. You're more likely to see ticks in urban areas as deer populations have recovered and expanded and tick populations, which rely on deer as a food source, have increased with them.
How to prevent tick bites:
Before heading outside, you can treat your clothing and gear with a chemical insecticide called permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remains on gear through several washings. You can also buy permethrin-treated clothing and gear.
When you're outside, avoid wooded areas with high grass, and walk in the center of trails. After you come indoors, check your clothing for ticks. You can tumble dry your clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks.
Additionally, dogs are especially susceptible to tick bites because they are more likely to run through wooded and grassy areas. Talk to your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products for your pet.
Check your pets regularly for ticks, especially after they spend time outdoors. Be sure to look for ticks around the tail, ears and eyelids, and under the front legs, back legs and between the toes. If you find a tick remove it immediately.
What should you do after a tick bite?
According to the CDC, here's how to remove a tick correctly from your skin:
Use a clean tweezer to grasp the tick as close to the skin as you can.
Pull upward with a steady hand. Don't twist the tick, which can cause parts of the tick to break off and remain in the skin.
After removing the tick, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
Do not crush a tick with your fingers. Dispose of the tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed container, wrapping it tightly in tape or flushing it down the toilet.
The Center for Disease Control also has a interactive tool called the Tick Bite Bot to assist users on how to remove an attached tick and how to determine when to seek health care. You can find the tool here.
When should you see a doctor after a tick bite?
You should contact your doctor if you aren't able to completely remove the tick. The longer the tick stays in your skin, the greater the risk of getting a disease from it, according to the Mayo Clinic.
You should see a doctor if you develop a larger rash, possibly with a bull's-eye pattern, which may be a sign of Lyme disease. The rash commonly appears between three to 14 days after the bite.
Contact your doctor if you develop flu-like signs and symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, muscle and joint pain and a headache. The Mayo Clinic also recommends seeing a doctor if you think the bite is infected. Symptoms of an infected bite include pain, change in skin color or oozing from the bite.
What are the symptoms of Lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by deer ticks, which are small in size, and can often go unnoticed. Symptoms typically develop three to 30 days after being bitten by a tick.
The symptoms include:
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
Muscle aches
Joint pain
Nausea
Expanding rash, often in the shape of a bullseye
How do you know if you have Lyme disease?
If you think you might have Lyme disease, you should contact your health care provider. CDC recommends a two-step test for Lyme disease using a blood sample. Both blood tests need to be positive for the disease to be diagnosed.
Most Lyme disease tests work by detecting antibodies made by the body in response to the infection. These antibodies can take several weeks to develop, so you can test negative if you've only been recently infected.
How is Lyme disease treated?
Most cases of Lyme disease are treated with 10 to 14 days of antibiotics, according to the CDC. People who take antibiotics in the early stages of Lyme disease usually can recover completely.
The antibiotics most commonly used to treat Lyme disease include doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime axetil.
The CDC does not recommend antibiotics after tick bites to prevent tickborne diseases. In certain circumstances, health care providers can administer a single dose of doxycycline after a tick bite to reduce risk of disease. You can ask your healthcare provider if antibiotics are an appropriate treatment for you.
RELATED: Doctors debate, patients suffer: The fight over chronic Lyme disease in Wisconsin
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin ticks and Lyme Disease: How to remove a tick from your skin
