Those pesky deer ticks. How to protect yourself this summer!

As the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points out, onset of the disease is most common in June, July, and August, when ticks are more active and people spend more time outdoors. State health offices report 30,000 cases to the CDC every year, but the actual number of Americans diagnosed with the disease could be as much as 10 times greater.

A bacterial infection caused by a bite from the black-legged or deer tick, Lyme disease is prevalent in the northeast and upper Midwest. The first sign is usually a rash with a bull’s-eye shape that appears within weeks of being bitten by an infected tick. The rash may be accompanied by flu-like symptoms such as body aches, fatigue, and fever.

Not everyone develops a rash, according to Penelope Dennehy, MD, director of pediatric infectious disease at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. In those cases, “it’s difficult to sort out Lyme symptoms from whatever garden-variety illness or virus is going around,” Dr. Dennehy says.

Untreated, Lyme disease can cause arthritis or neurological problems. Though less common, the Mayo Clinic lists an irregular heartbeat or inflammation of the liver as other potential complications.
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Though most cases can be treated with antibiotics, it’s best to avoid getting Lyme disease in the first place. Here are some simple precautions you can take:

• Use insect repellent that contains at least 20 percent DEET. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend using DEET on infants younger than two months.
• Light-colored clothing can help you spot ticks more easily. Wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck pants into your socks to reduce skin exposure.
• Wash clothes after being outdoors and inspect your body. Be sure to check kids and pets as well. Dennehy suggests parents look for “any freckles that weren’t there before.”
• Don’t panic if you spot a tick on your body. It has to embed itself for at least 24 hours and be infected in order to transmit the disease.
• If a tick is embedded in your skin, use tweezers to grab the tick near its head and pull straight up.
• If you think you’ve been bitten and have any symptoms, even if the signs seem to disappear, contact your doctor.