Tick season is here, so here are common Maryland varieties and how to protect yourself

Summer in the Mid-Atlantic also means tick season is in full swing along with the bevy of illnesses that come with their bites and stings.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated there were 71,012 tick-related illnesses reported across the United States in 2022, prompting a nationwide reminder that being outside, especially on the East Coast, means taking certain precautions and knowing the symptoms of common diagnoses like Lyme Disease. While pet fur is usually where they can be found, human hosts are just as common.

Regionally according to the center, Wicomico County had over 94 tick-related cases in 2020, Worcester County had over 35, and Somerset County had over 38 cases.

"Although ticks appear like small insects, they are actually arachnids, have four life stages, and they require three blood meals to complete their lifecycle. Ticks find their host by hanging on to leaves or grasses with their back legs and reaching out with their front legs. When a host comes by, they grab on and quickly crawl on to the host," said the University of Maryland Extension in their overview of species found in the state.

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Common tick species in Maryland and Lyme Disease

Fortunately for nature enthusiasts, the Mid-Atlantic has only the deer tick that can infect a host with Lyme Disease, a disease caused by bacteria Borrelia burgdoferi. This results in rashes, fever and fatigue starting three to 30 days after the initial infection. Symptoms include rash, fever headache, extreme tiredness, joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains, and swollen lymph nodes.

Failure to consult a medical professional, the Mayo Clinic notes, if symptoms occur could lead to even worse instances of many rashes, stiffness in the neck, muscle weakness and pain in joints and swelling in the eyelids. Finally, the third stage of untreated Lyme Disease arises two to 12 months after the initial infection and include arthritis, pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints and discoloration of the skin with swelling.

Areas like Maryland also include the Wood Tick, brown dog tick, lone star tick, Gulf Coast tick and the Asian longhorned tick. They are mostly active mainly in summer although some species can attach to host year-round.

In 2018, the state's Department of Natural Resources confirmed the first Asian longhorned tick in the state.

"This is the first confirmed sighting of this tick species in the state. The longhorned tick was found on a white-tailed deer in Washington County," the department said in a statement. "The state’s departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources are working together to inform the public about this new, invasive species and to urge Marylanders to take the necessary precautions to protect livestock, pets, and family members."

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Protect yourself from ticks: Long sleeves, long pants, good shoes

Protecting yourself from ticks starts with wearing the proper clothing and knowing, generally, where ticks like to "hang out" for a host.

The CDC suggests hikers do the following when going outdoors:

• Wear long pants, long sleeves, and close-toed shoes.

• Tuck pants into socks. Tuck shirts into pants.

• Wear clothing/shoes treated with the tick repellent permethrin. It kills ticks on contact with the clothing.

• Avoid sitting on logs, stumps or the ground in brushy areas. Periodically inspect clothing and your body before ticks become attached. Use a lint roller brush to remove ticks from clothing.

• Use insect repellents (such as DEET) according to label directions. Put sunscreen on first, then repellent. Never use DEET under clothing or on pets.

• Shower when possible after being outdoors.

• Throw clothes in a hot dryer for 10 minutes before washing, to kill any lingering ticks that may be attached to clothing.

If a tick is found attached, remove it as soon as possible with a slow, steady pull. It is best to use forceps with the tips placed on or just behind the mouthparts. Pull the tick’s body away from your skin. Disinfect the attachment area. Save the tick on a piece of clear tape and place it in the freezer, noting the date it was removed. You can send the tick to a lab to be identified.

Checking ticks after a hike begins with looking in and around hair, around the ears, your back, under arms, waistline, belly button, between and behind legs, and at your feet.

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This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Tick time is here in Maryland, how to protect yourself and more