Cooler weather doesn’t mean tick season is over in Massachusetts. Deer ticks (also called blacklegged ticks) stay active through the fall, and adult ticks can go looking for a host any time winter temperatures are above freezing, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Raking leaves, hiking, and playing in the yard can all bring you close to them. Here’s how to protect your family, remove a tick the right way, and know when to get checked.
Why fall still matters for ticks
Deer ticks can spread Lyme disease and a few other infections, including anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Ticks like shady, damp places with leaf litter, tall grass, and brush. In the fall, that often means the piles of leaves in your own yard, the edges of wooded trails, and stone walls. Because people are wearing more layers, a tick can also hide on clothing and go unnoticed until later.
Simple ways to prevent tick bites
The CDC recommends a few easy habits:
- Use an EPA-registered insect repellent with an ingredient such as DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Do not use oil of lemon eucalyptus products on children under 3 years old, and always follow the label.
- Consider clothing and gear treated with permethrin. Do not put permethrin directly on skin.
- Wear long pants tucked into socks when raking, gardening, or walking in tall grass or woods.
- When you come inside, put dry clothes in the dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill any ticks.
- Shower soon after coming indoors. The CDC notes that showering within two hours can lower your risk.
- Do a full tick check: under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, behind the knees, in the hair, between the legs, and around the waist. Check kids and pets too.
How to remove a tick
If you find a tick attached, take it off right away. You do not need to wait to see a doctor first. The CDC recommends these steps:
- Use clean, fine-tipped tweezers to grab the tick as close to the skin as you can.
- Pull upward with steady, even pressure. Don’t twist or jerk, which can leave mouth parts behind.
- Clean the bite and your hands with soap and water or rubbing alcohol.
- Get rid of the tick by putting it in a sealed bag or container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it. Never crush it with your fingers.
- Skip the old tricks like petroleum jelly, nail polish, or heat. They don’t help and may make things worse.
It’s a good idea to write down the date of the bite and where you think you picked up the tick. That information helps a provider if you get sick later.
Signs of Lyme disease to watch for
According to the CDC, early Lyme disease symptoms usually start 3 to 30 days after a tick bite. Watch for:
- A red rash that slowly gets bigger over several days. It may look like a bull’s-eye, but often it does not. It may feel warm but is usually not itchy or painful.
- Fever, chills, or headache
- Feeling very tired
- Muscle and joint aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
Not everyone with Lyme disease gets a rash, so flu-like symptoms after a tick bite are worth paying attention to, even without one.
When to visit urgent care
Come see us if you have a rash or fever within several weeks after a tick bite, if you can’t get the whole tick out, or if the bite area looks infected (spreading redness, swelling, warmth, or pus). Our providers can look at the bite or rash, talk through your risk, and decide whether treatment or lab testing makes sense. In some cases, a provider may discuss a preventive antibiotic, which works best soon after a deer tick bite, so it helps not to wait. You can learn more about how we care for rashes and skin problems and illnesses and infections.
No appointment is needed at either clinic. Our Acton clinic is at 100 Powder Mill Rd, and our Canton clinic is at 95 Washington St, Suite 204A. Both are open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm, with weekend hours too. If you’d like to save time, you can reserve your spot online before you come in.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if…
Get emergency care right away if you or your child has any of these after a tick bite, or at any time:
- Sudden drooping or weakness on one side of the face, or trouble speaking
- A severe headache with a stiff neck, or confusion
- Chest pain, fainting, or a racing or very irregular heartbeat
- Trouble breathing, or swelling of the lips, tongue, or face
- A high fever with confusion, seizures, or extreme sleepiness
With a few simple habits and quick action when you find a tick, you can keep enjoying fall in New England. If you’re ever unsure about a bite or a rash, stop by and let us take a look.