Tickborne Diseases in Passaic County

1
Tick-borne Diseases in Passaic County

• Disease Carrier
• 1) Lyme disease Deer black-legged tick
• 2) Human monocytic ehrlichiosis Lone star tick
• 3) Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) Dog tick

Actual size of ticks range from 1/16 to 3/16 or
1mm to 4 mm
Centimeters
Dog tick
Lone star tick
Deer tick
2
Recognition of Lyme Disease

• Early symptoms are a skin rash that begins as a
  small, red spot then gradually enlarges to
  resemble a bulls eye. Flu-like symptoms may also
  be present
• Symptoms begin 3 days to 30 days after a tick
  bite
• Long term effects debilitate the joints, heart,
  and nervous system

3
Recognition of RMSF

• Early symptoms which start 2-14 days after a tick
  bite include fever, deep muscle pain, severe
  headache, chills upset stomach/vomiting.
• A red spotted rash usually appears on the
  wrist/ankles and spreads to the palms/soles then
  to the rest of the body.

4
Recognition of Human Ehrlichiosis

• Early symptoms which start 1-21 days after a tick
  bite include fever, headache, muscle aches,
  chills. Symptoms can be very mild to very severe
  and life threatening.
• A red spotted rash similar to RMSF appears.

5
Prevention of Tick-borne Illness

• Avoid tick habitat Tall grass, scrubby areas,
  woods and leaf litter.

6
Preventing Tick Borne-illness

• Remove tick as soon as possible. Disease
  transmission is less likely to occur within the
  first 24 hours. Do not squeeze body of tick as
  this may inject fluids.

7
Prevention of Tick-borne Illness

• Wear long sleeve pants and shirts
• Repellents containing DEET or clothing treated
  with permethrin will repel ticks
• Check skin and clothing periodically for ticks
• Do NOT wear flee and tick collars for animals
• READ all labels before applying
  repellents/pesticides

8
Treatment for Tick-borne Illness

• Antibiotics can cure Lyme disease, RMSF, and
  ehrlichiosis
• Best results are achieved with early treatment