Checking for Ticks Reduce your chances of getting a tick-bornedisease by checking your body for ticks afterbeing outdoors. Use a hand-held or full-lengthmirror to view all parts of your body.

Be sure to check these parts of your body:

New Jersey Department of HealthCommunicable Disease ServicePO Box 369Trenton, NJ 08625(609) 826-4872

Aug 2017 C2471

v Under the armsv In/around the earsv Inside belly buttonv Back of the knees

v In/around the hairv Between the legsv Around the waistv On the scalp

Tick-BorneDISEASES

Where Can I Find MoreInformation?New Jersey Department of HealthCommunicable Disease Service: Vector-Borne Illnesswww.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/vectorborne.shtml

Centers for Disease Control andPrevention: Tick-Borne Diseasewww.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases

Centers for Disease Control andPrevention: Stop Tickswww.cdc.gov/features/stopticks

What to Do if You Find aTick

1. Using fine-tipped tweezers, grab thetick close to the skin. Do not twist orjerk the tick, as this may cause themouthparts to break off and remain inthe skin.

2. With a steady motion, gently pullstraight up until all parts of the tickare removed.

3. After removing the tick, clean yourskin with soap and warm water.

4. Contact a healthcare provider if youdevelop symptoms of tick-bornedisease.

Do not use petroleum jelly, hotmatches, nail polish remover, or otherproducts to remove a tick.

How to PreventTick-Borne Diseases3 DEET 3 Showers 3 Tick Checks

v Know where ticks are: ticks live in or nearwooded or grassy areas. Always walk in thecenter of trails to avoid contact with ticks.

v Keep your yard clean: mow lawns, clearbrush and remove leaf litter.

v Apply insecticides: use EPA-registeredrepellent with DEET on skin and permethrinon clothing, boots and camping gear.

v Cover up: wear long sleeves and pantstucked into socks to prevent ticks fromgetting under clothes.

v Shower: showering can help find and washoff unattached ticks.

v Inspect: check your body for ticks.

What are tick-borne diseases?Tick-borne diseases are illnesses that can bespread to humans by the bite of an infected tick.The most common tick-borne diseases in NewJersey are:v Anaplasmosisv Babesiosisv Ehrlichiosisv Lyme disease v Rocky Mountain spotted fever

What are the symptoms of tick-borne diseases?Early signs of tick-borne diseases can include:v Skin rash v Tirednessv Fever/chillsv Headache v Stiff neckv Muscle achesv Joint painv Dizziness

What is the treatment for tick-borne diseases?Most tick-borne diseases (Lyme disease,ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, and Rocky Mountainspotted fever) are caused by bacteria and canbe treated with antibiotics. Babesiosis is causedby a parasite similar to malaria, and ahealthcare provider may prescribe medication. Itis important to check for symptoms and talk to ahealthcare provider if you’ve been bitten by atick. Early treatment can be very effective.

Who gets tick-borne diseases?Anyone who is bitten by an infected tick may get atick-borne disease. People who spend a lot oftime outdoors, especially from April to September,have a greater risk of becoming infected.

How do tick-borne diseasesspread?Ticks become infected when feeding on smallinfected mammals such as white-footed miceand voles. An infected tick can then infect aperson through a tick bite. It is possible to beinfected with more than one tick-borne diseaseat the same time.

American dogtick

Lone star tickBlack-legged“deer” tick

How soon after a tick bite dosymptoms occur?

Lyme disease 3-30 days Ehrlichiosis 7-14 days Anaplasmosis 7-14 days Rocky Mt. spotted fever 2-14 daysBabesiosis 7-63+ days

T I C K - B O R N E D I S E A S E S

Disease-causing ticks in NJThese are common ticks in New Jersey thatmay spread disease to humans:v Black-legged “deer” tick (Ixodes scapularis)

can transmit Lyme disease, anaplasmosis,babesiosis and Powassan disease

v American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted feverand tularemia

v Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum)can transmit ehrlichiosis and tularemia

How are tick-borne diseasesdiagnosed?Most tick-borne diseases are diagnosed throughblood tests and by discussing symptoms with ahealthcare provider.

adultfemale

Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis)

adultmale

nymph larva