Tick Season from Patient First

The start of Spring means warm weather, longer days, and unfortunately, the return of ticks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the number of cases of disease acquired from ticks, mosquitos and fleas have more than tripled in the last 13 years.

Ticks feed on warm-blooded animals, including people, and can transmit serious illness through their bites. Those illnesses include infections, skin rashes, and the most common tick-borne illness-- Lyme disease. . Symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after a bite and include:

• “Bull’s-eye” rash (erythema migrans)
• Fever
• Muscle and joint pain
• Fatigue

Ticks usually live in tall grass and in wooded areas, but they can also enter your home on pets or on your clothing. While it’s a good idea to take precautions year-round, you should be cautious during warmer months when ticks are most active. The CDC offers these tips to help you avoid
tick bites while working or playing outside:

• Wear long-sleeved shirts and tuck your pants into your socks.
• Avoid sitting on the ground.
• Remove and inspect your clothing after leaving a possible tick-infested area.
• Put clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on your clothing.
• Shower within two hours of leaving a tick-prone area to wash off ticks that may be crawling on you.
• Conduct a full-body inspection of yourself, your children and your pets.

Patient First physicians are available to explain the diagnosis, symptoms, treatment and prevention of tick bites and related diseases. Please contact Victoria Soriano at (571) 340-1594 or email Victoria.Soriano@patientfirst.com for interviews.

Related Content

• Four Tick-Borne Illnesses You Should Know: https://www.patientfirst.com/blog/tick-borne-illnesses

About Patient First

All Patient First Medical Centers are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the year, including holidays. Patient First provides non-appointment urgent care for routine injuries and illnesses, primary care for patients who do not have a regular physician, as well as telehealth services. Each Patient First center
has on-site digital x-ray, on-site laboratory, and on-site prescription medication. Patient First currently operates medical centers in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Media Contact: Victoria Soriano
(703) 652-1572 (Office)
(571) 340-1594 (Mobile)
Victoria.Soriano@patientfirst.com
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