Lone Star Tick Disease

In recent years, there has been an increase in awareness and concern about tick-borne diseases, since ticks can carry a number of different diseases including Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis (er·lik·i·o·sis), Babesiosis (ba·be·si·o·sis) and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Ehrilichiosis, also known as Lone Star Tick Disease, is a tick-borne bacterial disease that may be spread by several different types of ticks, including the deer tick, the dog tick and the lone star tick.

In the past, the lone star tick was found mostly in the southeastern United States. However, according to state health officials, in recent years, the lone star tick has been detected on Long Island and in New Jersey.

The lone star tick is about the size of a watermelon seed and will readily feed on human blood. It is most active in the summer. The female lone star tick is easily recognized by a single white dot on her back. The male tick has white markings around the edges of his back. Notably, the lone star tick is aggressive and can select a host at a distance, unlike the deer tick who typically waits for direct contact to attach to a host. If you are bitten by an infected lone star tick, illness can begin one to three weeks after the tick bite. Common symptoms may include; fever, muscle aches, rash, weakness and headaches. Treatment with an antibiotic is usually very effective against the disease.

If you are bitten by an infected lone star tick, illness can begin one to three weeks after the tick bite. Common symptoms may include; fever, muscle aches, rash, weakness and headaches. Treatment with an antibiotic is usually very effective against the disease.

How Can I Prevent Contracting Lone Star Tick Disease?

Preventive measures, listed below, are similar to those for Lyme disease.

• If you spend time outdoors in areas inhabited by ticks, wear shoes, long pants tucked into socks, and long sleeves. A thorough daily tick check can be an effective first-line defense.
• Use insect repellent around your ankles.
• Wear light-colored clothing as ticks are easier to spot against light colors.
• If you work or walk in brushy areas or woods, check regularly for ticks. Take special care to check around the armpits, groin, scalp and beltline (plus the neck and head of children). Check pets often as well.

If you do find a tick on your skin, remove it immediately.

• Using tweezers or gloved fingers, grasp it as close to the skin as possible, pulling gently and steadily.
• Be patient; ticks secrete a special substance that "cements" them to your skin.
• Save the tick for identification, if possible.
• Wash the bite with soap and water.
• Even if the tick's mouthparts remain embedded in the skin, removal of the body reduces the risk of infection; the bacteria-bearing salivary glands are in the gut, far from the mouth.
• If redness develops around the bite, see your doctor.

For additional information contact:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/stari/index.htm

New York State Department of Health
http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/ehrlichiosis/docs/fact_sheet.pdf

Health information in this article was obtained from the following sources: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). Published September 2006.
HIP reviews this article, as all articles in MyHealth, on a quarterly basis.