Tick Control for TN Ticks That Could Make You Sick

Lyme disease is the most prolific tick-borne illness, but ticks in Tennessee pose risks other than Lyme infection.

In recent years, ticks in Tennessee have grown to record populations. Additionally, new ticks have emerged, such as the Lone Star tick. This tick with a white spot could be dangerous to your health. The Lone Star tick is responsible for an illness that presents much like Lyme disease, called southern tick-associated rash illness. Due to the influx of ticks and tick species in Tennessee, it is more important than ever that you remain informed of tick-associate risks.

How is southern tick-associated rash illness like Lyme disease?

Southern tick associated rash illness, or STARI for short, is like Lyme infection in many ways. STARI even presents with a tell-tale rash, which is quite similar to the bulls-eye rash that is common to those who contract Lyme disease. What’s more, southern tick-associated rash illness’ symptoms are very much like those of Lyme infection. These include:

• Fever
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Fatigue

How is STARI different from Lyme infection?

There are some distinctions that have been found between STARI and Lyme infection through the years. In 2005, one study explicitly outlined these distinctions, which is further helpful in diagnosis of STARI versus Lyme. These distinctions include:

• The rash associated with STARI occurred on average, within six days of tick exposure – a shorter onset than the rash associated with Lyme infection.
• STARI sufferers more often recalled being bitten by a tick than patients with Lyme disease.
• The rash associated with STARI was found to be smaller than the rash associated with Lyme infection. Both lesion sizes are comparable on the lower end, but STARI lesions were generally a maximum of 10 cm, whereas Lyme lesions can grow up to 28 cm.
• Patients who were treated for STARI had a more rapid recovery than patients who were treated for Lyme infection.

How is southern tick associated rash illness treated?

Currently, there are no laboratory tests to confirm STARI infection. This tick-borne illness is diagnosed by eliminating early-stage Lyme infection and based on the symptoms above. It is helpful if the patient is sure of the type of tick bite they have received, and advisable that if a tick is found, to save it by sealing it in a sandwich bag with alcohol. This will help clinicians identify the tick and treat (if possible) infections that the tick is known for. Additionally, it is not known for sure whether the antibiotic regimen used to treat Lyme disease is effective for STARI. However, many doctors will treat with antibiotics due to the disease’s similarities to early Lyme infection.

Tick Control, Your Best Bet Against TN Ticks and Tick-Borne Illnesses

The most simply explanation to be healthy in the fight against TN ticks and tick-borne diseases is to prevent them in the first place. Because even if you catch a tick-borne illness early enough to treat it, wouldn’t it be better to have never had to deal with it? Then, there is the fact that some illnesses spread by ticks can leave lifelong illnesses behind or result in death. Tick protection is key.

When you are away from home, protect yourself by wearing pants and long sleeves. When you spend time outdoors, whether at work, or hiking or camping, perform a thorough tick check on your body and clothing. Be sure to check your pets if they have been outdoors too! You can additionally throw your clothing into the dryer for 10 minutes on high to kill any ticks that could be on your clothes.

At home, trust Mosquito Squad of Nashville for proven tick control. Since 2005, Mosquito Squad has been providing mosquito and tick control through barrier protection sprays for up to three weeks at a time. To extend your protection all year long, our tick control tube regimen deploys in late autumn, effectively reducing the number of ticks that emerge each spring.

Tennessee ticks are bloodthirsty and potentially dangerous. Have you planned for protection? Trust the experts at Mosquito Squad of Nashville for proven and effective tick control. Contact us at (615) 492-3662.