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Community Health Tip - Know How to Do a Tick Check Because Tick Season is HERE!

Rutland, VT –Tick bites and tick-related issues are most commonly reported in the spring and fall. When you spend time outdoors or have pets that go outdoors, be proactive and learn how to check your clothing and pets for ticks, the tiny black parasites that attach to the skin and can transmit diseases.  

According to the Vermont Health Department, Addison County had the highest density of adult ticks and Rutland County had the highest density of nymph ticks reported. This is significant because ticks in the nymph life stage are tiny (less than 2 mm) and difficult to see, and they may be able to feed on human hosts longer, increasing the likelihood of tick-bite illness.
 

KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF TICK-RELATED ILLNESSES 

Lyme disease is the most common tick-bite illness in Vermont, followed by anaplasmosis and then babesiosis which have increased significantly over the last ten years.

After a tick bite, watch for symptoms for 30 days. Symptoms may include fever, chills, headache, joint pain, muscle aches, fatigue, or a rash. Most people with Lyme disease will have a rash that starts as redness near the tick bite area and can sometimes grow to look like a bull’s-eye.

Unlike Lyme disease, anaplasmosis does not commonly cause a rash. The most common symptoms reported in Vermont residents with anaplasmosis include fever, malaise, muscle aches, chills and headaches.

Babesiosis is caused by an infection by a microscopic blood parasite carried by ticks. Many people who have been infected with Babesia do not experience any symptoms however, 70% of cases reported to the Health Department are in Vermonters 55 years of age or older and have occurred in residents of Bennington, Rutland, Windsor and Windham counties.
 

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY

Some ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see, so it's important to take preventive measures:
  • Use a chemical repellent with DEET permethrin or picaridin
  • Wear light-colored protective clothing
  • Tuck pant legs into socks
  • Avoid tick-infested areas such as tall grass, leaf litter or shrubs
  • Check yourself, your children and pets daily for ticks and carefully remove any ticks you find
Contact your Community Health provider if you develop any symptoms, and tell them about a recent tick bite, when it occurred, and your outdoor activities. Some tick bite illnesses can be treated with a short course of antibiotics. Most people who begin treatment early on fully recover.
 

About Community Health
Community Health is Vermont’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), providing primary care, pediatrics, behavioral health, dental, eye care, and pharmacy services across multiple locations, including Brandon, Castleton, Rutland, Shoreham, and West Pawlet. Express Care centers, open seven days a week, are located in Rutland and Castleton.

Learn more about services, locations, hours, and career opportunities at CHCRR.org or contact Patient Access at 802-779-9169.
 

The mission of Community Health is to be the foremost integrated community health center providing quality and collaborative care that is accessible to all people, in order to live their best lives and build stronger communities.

Community Health Tip - Tick Season is Here. Prevention is the Key.