Ticks are not insects! They are arachnids, like spiders and mites. Adult ticks have eight legs, while insects only have six. Arachnids and insects both belong to a larger group called the arthropods.
Ticks go through four life stages: egg, larva, nymph, and adult. After hatching from eggs, ticks must feed on blood from people or animals to survive and grow to the next stage. Ticks can carry bacteria, viruses, or parasites, called pathogens, that can be spread while feeding. The illnesses caused by those pathogens are called tickborne diseases. Lyme disease is the most common tickborne disease in Pennsylvania and in the United States.
The best way to prevent tickborne disease is:
- Learn about ticks and how to avoid tick bites.
- Know what to do if you are bitten.
- Learn the signs and symptoms of tickborne illnesses.
The life cycle of Ixodes scapularis (blacklegged tick or deer tick), the tick that causes Lyme disease.
How do ticks spread disease?
Ticks must feed on blood from people or animals, called hosts, to survive. When a tick bites, it inserts its mouth parts and attaches to the host's skin, then feeds for hours or even days. Ticks can carry bacteria, viruses, or parasites, called pathogens, that can enter the host while the tick is feeding and then cause the host to become sick. Young ticks that have hatched from eggs, called larvae, are not usually infected - they more commonly become infected after feeding on infected animals.
The longer the tick stays attached, the more likely it is to spread the pathogens that cause tickborne diseases. A tick must stay attached for at least 36 to 48 hours to spread the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Other tickborne pathogens, like the Powassan virus, can be passed to hosts more quickly.
How do ticks find their hosts?
Ticks find people or animals to bite by sensing carbon dioxide from our breath, body odors, body heat, moisture, and movement. Ticks can't fly or jump, they can only crawl. Many tick species find people and animals by "questing," which means the tick climbs to the top of grass, brush, or other vegetation, holds its first pair of legs out, and waits. When a person or animal brushes the spot, the tick quickly climbs on. Deer ticks, which transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, quest. Some ticks, like the lone star tick, will crawl toward a host and may follow them for several yards. Lone star ticks spread the bacteria that cause ehrlichiosis and are also linked to alpha-gal syndrome (red meat allergy).
Where can ticks be found?
Ticks live in many outdoor areas, including woods, parks, meadows, pastures, school yards, back yards, woodland edges, and natural areas along streams and rivers. Ticks are often found in tall grasses, weeds, leaf or wood piles, in gardens, and along walking paths or trails.
Video: Where can ticks be found?
What time of year are ticks active?
Ticks in Pennsylvania are most active from April-August and again in October and November. However, winter weather does not kill ticks, and they may be active whenever the temperature is above freezing. This means that tick bites can happen at any time of year. Take steps to protect yourself, your family, and your pets from tick bites year-round.
Lyme disease and many other tickborne illnesses are more common from late spring through early fall. That is when nymphal and adult ticks in Pennsylvania are most active. To learn more about tickborne disease cases in Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health Tickborne Diseases Dashboard. To learn more about the different tick species in Pennsylvania, visit the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) website: Tick Surveillance and Testing | Department of Environmental Protection | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Should I see a health care provider after a tick bite?
After some tick bites, a single dose of an antibiotic called doxycycline can help prevent Lyme disease. This is called post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP. It can be used after a tick bite if:
- The tick was a deer tick, or if you think it may be a deer tick.
- The tick looked at least partially filled with blood.
- The tick was removed within the last 72 hours.
If all three apply to you, then ask a health care provider taking a preventative dose of doxycycline.
View information about PEP. After a tick bite, watch for signs of illness for up to 30 days. Early symptoms of tickborne diseases can include fever, rash, headaches, fatigue, and joint pain. If you have any of these symptoms after a tick bite, see a health care provider right away.
Video: What are the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?
After being bitten, should the tick be tested?
The Pennsylvania Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not recommend testing ticks for pathogens (bacteria, viruses, or parasites). Tick testing results cannot tell whether person was infected or not. If you are concerned after a tick bite, talk to a health care provider instead.
For more information on tick testing in Pennsylvania, see: Tick Testing | Department of Health | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
How can tickborne diseases be prevented?
To prevent tick bites and reduce the risk of getting a tickborne disease, follow the steps to protect, check, and remove.
- Protect yourself by using EPA-registered repellents on exposed skin, treating clothing, shoes, and gear with permethrin, and avoiding tick habitats.
- Check for ticks on yourself, family members, clothing, and pets after spending time outdoors.
- Remove and ticks you find as quickly as possible.
For more information, click to view Pennsylvania Department of Health prevention resources: (link to new ‘Tickborne Disease Prevention’ page above).
How is Lyme disease treated?
Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics, usually doxycycline. Treatment usually lasts for 10, 14, or 28 days. Your health care provider will choose the right antibiotic and length of treatment based on your symptoms, health history, and other factors.
Some patients still feel sick after finishing antibiotic treatment. This is called Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS). The cause of PTLDS is not yet known. Most patients with lasting symptoms get better over time without taking more antibiotics, but recovery can take many months. Taking additional antibiotics when they are not needed may increase the risk of side effects and may also contribute to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is when bacteria change in ways that allow them to survive treatment with an antibiotic, making infections harder to treat.