Ticks, Lyme and its prevention should be on all of our minds now that spring has arrived.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC(, there were approximately 30,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in the US in 2019.  It is estimated that there may be as many as 476,000 cases per year due to underreporting or under diagnosing.

Here are a few measures that can be used to minimize exposure to Lyme disease:

• Avoid areas with high tick activity, such as tall grasses, wooded areas or brush.
• Wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and pants, and tuck pant legs into socks or boots.
• Use tick repellents on clothing or exposed skin.
• Conduct regular tick checks on yourself, your family, and pets, and remove ticks promptly and properly. If the tick was attached to the body, save the tick and send it to a lab to be analyzed to see if the tick is carrying Lyme or co-infections.
• Mowing regularly and keeping lawns clear of tall grasses or brush.
• Treating pets with tick repellents and checking them regularly for ticks.
• Seeking prompt medical attention if you develop symptoms of Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick, such as fever, fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, and a bull’s eye rash.

Lyme disease is easier to treat when it is detected early.  If the tick is tested, and found to be carrying Lyme disease, you will be able to start the proper treatment sooner.

Sending the tick to a lab for testing is the best way to determine if it is infected with Lyme disease causing organisms.  Without lab testing, it can be difficult to know if you were bitten by an infected tick.  Having the tick tested gives piece of mind.  Knowing for certain whether or not the tick was infected can provide peace of mind and help you make informed decisions about your health.

If you are diagnosed with Lyme disease, you will be able to receive the appropriate treatment.  Treatment can help prevent long term health issues that can result from untreated or under treated Lyme disease, such as chronic joint pain and neurological problems.

TICKCHECK.com can determine if the tick that bit you carries Lyme of 10 additional tick-borne diseases.

Click here to see our staffs favorite tick removal tweezers, tick-Kit that contains everything you need with you while you are out and about if you get bitten by a tick, and tick repellants for your family and pets.

Please feel free to ask one of our staff if you have any questions.