An Update on Deer Ticks and Lyme Disease Summer 2023
We all know that Lyme disease is endemic in the state of Maine. We also all know that as Mainers, after a cold and long winter, we are ready to spend time outdoors in the summer!
We had a slow start to our summer this year with lots of rain and moisture through the month of June and much of July. While we may not have liked this, the ticks did. They love moisture!
Last summer the state of Maine had a record-breaking 2,600 cases of Lyme disease reported and it is safe to say with this summer’s weather conditions, we are expecting even more in 2023. It should also be noted that ticks were once primarily a problem for those of us living in southern and coastal Maine. Unfortunately, ticks are now being reported in places like Jackman, Houlton, Presque Isle and even Fort Kent.
So what can we do? Let’s get outside, enjoy this beautiful state, but stay vigilant.
The easiest ways to protect ourselves are simple:
Wear long pants (tuck pants into socks) and long sleeved shirts
Wear shoes that cover the entire feet
Wear light colored clothing so you can see any ticks that get on you
Treat clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin
Walk in the center of trails to avoid brush or high grass
Use insect repellent, DEET is the primary active ingredient in most tick repellents and is considered most effective
Complete a skin check after spending time outdoors (remember you will most often find ticks in moist or hairy areas such as the groin, armpits, scalp, and other hard to see areas of the body)
Shower within 2 hours of coming indoors
Many of you know that the classic finding of Lyme disease is Erythema migrans (the red expanding rash or classic bull’s-eye rash) that usually appears 3-30 days after a tick bite. But what percentage of people who have Lyme disease actually have a bull’s-eye rash? It turns out, in the state of Maine, only 50% of patients report this! Often patients just have a red flat rash of a few inches, or some may not see a rash at all.
We encourage any patient who has a rash, particularly with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, body or joint aches, headache or fatigue, to reach out to their primary care physician right away. Symptoms of Lyme disease typically occur 3-7 days after the initial tick bite. When Lyme is caught early it is easily treated with antibiotics.
Another common question we get this time of year is what to do after you find a tick on yourself. Remember, in general, the longer the tick is attached to you, the more likely it is to pass on an infection if it is carrying one.
If you meet all of the following parameters, you would qualify for a one time dose of antibiotics to prevent Lyme disease from possibly developing.
The attached tick can be identified as a blacklegged tick
The estimated time of attachment is greater than or equal to 36 hours, and the tick is engorged (not flat)
Antibiotics can be started within 72 hours of tick removal
Lastly, let’s talk about how to safely remove a tick from your skin. Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist the tick. Your goal is to remove the entire tick, ideally in one piece, including the mouth parts embedded under the skin. Clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol, iodine lotion or soap and water.
We hope this information has been helpful to you. For up to date information you can also go to www.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases/ or contact your physician if you have any questions. Stay safe and let’s enjoy the rest of summer here in our great state of Maine!