Ticks

Tick-Borne Diseases

The health hazard you are most likely to encounter while hiking the Appalachian Trail is contracting a tick-borne disease. Multiple species of ticks can be found in every one of the 14 states that the A.T. passes through.

Black-legged Deer Ticks

Although tick-borne diseases are usually quite treatable when caught early, symptoms can be severe and long-lasting, and a few of the less common tick-borne diseases can be life threatening if not treated properly, especially for those with compromised immune systems.

Lyme disease, carried by the deer tick (also known as the black-legged tick) is the most common. However, there are several tick-borne illnesses present on the A.T. and combinations of diseases may occur from a single tick bite.

For comprehensive information about tick-borne diseases and symptoms, click here.

The characteristic “bulls-eye” rash sometimes occurs with Lyme disease, but not always. Symptoms that may indicate tick-borne illnesses and a need for medical attention include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, joint pain, muscle aches and fatigue. For many tick-borne illnesses, symptoms may continue for months or even years and treatment may be difficult. Treatment is most effective immediately after a tick bite.

Most humans are infected by nymphs, which are about the size of a poppy seed and difficult to see. The most common time of year to be bitten by a tick is from May through July, but you can potentially be bitten by a tick any time of year, even in cold temperatures.

For an in-depth article about Lyme disease on the A.T., click here.

Prevention is the best strategy! Your chances of being bitten by a tick can be greatly reduced by taking these precautions:

Wear clothing treated with permethrin and dress tick safe.

• Permethrin is an insecticide that is applied to gear and clothing, and kills or repels ticks on contact (bonus: permethrin is also effective at repelling mosquitoes and biting flies, too!).
• Treated pants or bug-net pants over shorts are very effective at preventing tick bites and the bug-net pants allow for ventilation on warm, humid days. Treating shoes is also effective.
• Spray-on permethrin can also be used to treat your pack and outer tent floor.
• Further prevent tick bites by wearing long pants tucked into socks, and shirt tucked into pants (ticks crawl up, so tucking clothing in this way makes it harder for ticks to get to your skin).
• Long-sleeved shirts, especially when treated with permethrin, offer more protection than short sleeves.
• Wear light-colored clothing since ticks are easier to spot on lighter colors.

At InsectShield.com, you can purchase pre-treated clothing, buy spray to apply to clothing yourself, and/or send in your own clothing to be factory-treated. Use promo code “ATC” for a 15% discount on your first purchase. In addition, 10% off all sales purchased through these links will be donated back to ATC.

Courtesy of the CDC.

Use insect repellent.

• The CDC recommends using an approved insect repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET or picaridin on exposed skin.
• DO NOT spray permethrin directly on skin – it is meant to be used on clothing and gear.

Do frequent tick checks throughout the day and always do a thorough tick check at night. 

• Throughout the day during breaks, check over your legs and arms for any ticks you may have picked up.
• At night or when you get home, do a thorough, full-body tick check. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body. Check these parts of your body and your child’s body for ticks:
  • Under the arms
  • In and around the ears
  • Inside belly button
  • Back of the knees
  • In and around the hair
  • Between the legs
  • Around the waist

Learn more about how to conduct a thorough tick check here.

Choose sections of the Trail and times of year with the lowest risk.

• Ticks are generally found in areas under 2000-2500′ elevation.
• Most cases are reported from May through July, when nymphs are active.
• States from Virginia through Vermont have the highest incidence of Lyme disease. However, Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses can be contracted in any A.T. state at any time of year.

Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on logs.

• Sit on a pad treated with permethrin instead. If you don’t have a pad, bare rocks, benches, or shelter floors are all safer options.
• Use a ground cloth or a tent or tarp with a bottom (bonus if its treated with permethrin!).

Change and shower once you get home from your hike. 

• Once inside, put clothes in the dryer on high heat for 60 minutes to kill any remaining ticks.
• Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases. Showering may help wash off unattached ticks and it is a good opportunity to do a tick check.

Consider leaving Fido at home or make sure they get a thorough tick check, too!

• Dogs can put you at a higher risk for coming in contact with ticks. Consider them leaving at home, especially if you’ll be hiking through brushy or grassy, low elevation areas in summer.
• If you bring your pup, be sure to check them as often, if not more often, than you check yourself.
• Treat their collar, leashes, harness, and gear with permethrin.
• Make sure they are regularly taking an approved tick treatment (often sold as flea and tick or as a combination worm prevention).
• Talk to your vet about vaccinating your pup against Lyme and other tick-borne illness.

Talk to you doctor and learn more about tick disease prevention.

• Talk to your healthcare provider about other strategies to prevent tick-borne illness, including any recommended prophylaxis.
• Visit the CDC’s tick page to learn more.