Don’t let ticks take a bite out of your summer.

With the Centers for Disease control reporting that tick bites in the Midwest nearly doubled over the past year, Indiana University Kokomo experts explain what’s driving the increase, how to prevent tick bites, and what to do if you’re bitten.

Angela Opsahl, dean of the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professions (SNAHP) and Christian Chauret, professor of microbiology, agreed finding a tick on your body is not a reason to go to the Emergency Room – but it is a reason to watch for symptoms of tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, a bacterial infection transmitted by blacklegged (deer) ticks, or Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a potentially life-threatening red meat and dairy allergy triggered by specific tick bites.

“People should be aware of the risks, but not panic if they see a tick on their skin,” Chauret said. “It’s important to understand what the risks are, how to prevent them, what symptoms might be, and how to monitor for that.”

Why are there more ticks?

Chauret said warmer, shorter winters are the primary reason for the increase in ticks, giving them a better chance of surviving. Growing deer populations have also contributed, along with continued residential development in formerly wooded areas.

“With the increased population of deer across the Midwest, that means more hosts for deer ticks,” he said. “With more hosts, there are more ticks. As we build in their habitats, people are also living in closer proximity to deer and ticks.”

Can I prevent tick bites?

Opsahl said preventing tick bites in the first place is the best medicine.

Ticks live in grassy, brushy, wooded areas, so anyone spending time outdoors should be aware of where they might be encountered. Insect repellants designed for use on clothing and gear can help keep ticks away.

“If you’re going to be outside, you can treat your clothing, your shoes, your gear, with Permethrin five percent,” she said, or buy pre-treated apparel. She added that this preventative should not go directly on the skin.

“On direct skin, use EPA-registered insect repellants that contain DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon, or eucalyptus,” she said, with sunscreen applied before the repellant if both are being used.

Opsahl noted that children younger than 3 should not use those products but should be watched closely and checked thoroughly for ticks.

When returning indoors, she recommends taking off clothing that may have been exposed to ticks immediately and washing them and drying on high heat for 30 minutes, as well as doing a thorough body check for ticks.

Pets should also be treated with preventatives and checked before entering the house.

An avid outdoorsman, Chauret said he tries to stay in the middle of a trail when he hikes, to avoid tall grass on the edges that could have ticks. He also suggested wearing long pants and tucking the pant hems into your socks, since ticks are most likely to come up from the ground.

What do I do if I find a tick on myself or someone else?

If you find a tick, Opsahl said to use fine tipped tweezers to gently lift the tick with steady, even pressure and no twisting, and then to clean the site with soap and water. If soap and water isn’t available, rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer will also work.

Finding a tick is not a reason to see a medical professional, but she recommended saving the tick in a plastic bag or container and watching for symptoms for 30 days.

“If you start having fever or chills, if you start feeling fatigued, have headaches, or muscle or joint pain, or the distinct bullseye rash, it’s time to see a medical provider,” she said, adding that Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics. There’s no cure for AGS, which is primarily spread by the lone star tick, but symptoms can be managed.

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