A specialist with Mosaic Life Care for tick-borne illnesses has seen a slight increase from last year in suspected tick-related infections.
Dr. Scott Folk is the Medical Director of Adult Infectious Diseases with the hospital. He said while he has seen a slight increase from 2016, this year appears to be on par with what he would normally expect to see.
“Based on my observation this is a more typical year. This is kind of in keeping with what I would normally expect based on the last 10 plus years,” Dr. Folk said.
He estimates he has seen around eight or 10 individuals, since mid-May with possible tick-borne infections. While the number was slightly lower in 2016, Dr. Folk said on average he would expect to see around 10 to 15 individuals for possible tick-related infections. However, he said he usually examines individuals with more severe reactions.
“I’m sure that there are other patients who aren’t as severely ill, who present to their medical provider with perhaps a smaller number of symptoms, who have been evaluated and treated in the office of their family physician,” Dr. Folk said.
The most common ticks found in northwest Missouri include the Lone Star Tick and the American Dog Tick which do not transmit Lyme disease. Dr. Folk said the Blacklegged Tick which does transmit Lyme disease is rarely found in northwest Missouri which is why cases of Lyme disease are lower in the area. However, the two types of ticks most found in the area can transmit other illnesses.
“Such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Rickettsiosis and what we found here, the Heartland virus,” Dr. Folk said. “The range of ticks in the U.S. seems to be increasing and certainly new tick-borne diseases have been discovered and I think undiscovered at this point in time.”
Prior to going out in wooded and grassy areas, Dr. Folk recommends wearing long pants and long-sleeves and pulling socks over pant-legs to prevent ticks from being able to find skin. He also recommends using tick repellent that contains 20 or 30 percent DEET in it. While it’s a good idea to take preventative measures against ticks year-round, Dr. Folk said to be especially vigilant in northwest Missouri in spring and late summer.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, tick-borne diseases can result in mild symptoms treatable at home to severe infections requiring hospitalization. CLICK HERE to learn more about symptoms and when to see a doctor for a tick bite.