Are you exposed to Lyme disease?

While reported cases of tick-borne diseases are on the rise across the country, experts and experts say the public needs to do more to avoid risks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a record number of tick-borne disease cases have been reported by state and local health departments in 2017.

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In total, the number of tick-borne diseases increased by 22%, from 48,610 cases reported in 2016 to a total of 59,349 cases reported in 2017. Data for the last year was available. The majority of them were suffering from Lyme disease, health officials said.

"The reported cases represent only a fraction of the total number of people with tick-borne diseases," CDC health experts said recently. "Still, the number of cases of Lyme disease reported in the United States has tripled since the late 1990s."

How to be exposed to Lyme disease without knowing it

Most cases of Lyme disease are reported from May to August. The disease often occurs when a young infected tick, called a nymph, bites into the skin and transmits the bacteria.

"Basically, the tick that carries Lyme disease is in the tall grass," Healthline told Dr. Amy Edwards, assistant medical director of pediatric infection control at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital. "So running in uncultivated fields is a risk, [as are] camping and hiking, etc. "

The tiny arachnid prefers to attach to the warm parts of the body, such as the groin, armpit or scalp.

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Lia Gaertner, a scientist on the Bay Area Lyme Foundation Advisory Board, told the experts that the disease appeared to cause long-term problems for some people and that additional efforts were being made to raise public awareness of the infection. The non-profit organization based in Silicon Valley raises funds for research aimed at finding better ways to diagnose and cure the disease. I said.

She added that people were exposed to Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases without knowing it:

1. Being too tired to check check. Children are the most exposed because they play outside more often than others and are closer to the ground.

2. Do not know what a tick looks like. It can be as small as the point at the end of a sentence.

3. Sleep with your dog without thorough checking. Or let your kids cuddle with the dog on the way back from the park.

4. Believe that urban parks are fine. Sitting on logs and walking in tall grass can put you in danger, even in an urban park.

Rake the leaves. Many ticks hide under the leaves, especially in the south, as they tend to hide from the heat and the sun

6. You think you are safe because your neighborhood does not have deer. Ticks live in areas where even deer are not present. Mice, squirrels and other animals can be carriers depending on where you live.

7. Discard the tick. If you throw it away, you lose the opportunity to learn to identify the type of tick and have it tested for pathogens. Check your check mark with this CDC resource. Alternatively, you can send your tick for a TickReport test.

Gaertner says that they do not want to scare people, but educate them about the dangers.

"We do not want people to stop enjoying the outdoors," said Gaertner. "It's so important for mental health and happiness. We do not want people to be paranoid, but that they are aware of it. "

Where do tick-borne diseases occur?

More and more countries are reporting the disease and there are a number of reasons why, explains Gaertner. The Bay Area Lyme Foundation raises funds for research aimed at finding better ways to diagnose and cure bacterial disease.

The bacteria that cause Lyme disease can cause flu-like symptoms, including headaches and fatigue. It's not always easy to diagnose. For years, health experts have indicated that an infected tick leaves behind a rash that often looks like an ox's eye.

This is true for some people, but not everyone will have a rash-shaped rash. Lyme disease can be treated with antibiotics, but if left untreated, the disease can lead to long-term health problems.

"We have a tick-borne disease and tick problem that is attributed to a number of factors, including the construction of houses in natural areas, the extension of our urban environment, climate change, animal migration patterns and weather, "said Gaertner.

A study funded by the Bay Area Lyme Foundation has asked citizens across the country to submit ticks to Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Based on the 16,000 ticks collected in 49 US states and Puerto Rico, researchers have discovered ticks that can transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases in 83 counties in 24 states where these ticks do not occur. had never been registered before.

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"People can really put themselves in danger by thinking that Lyme disease is limited to the Northeast," said Edwards.

"I think people assume that they will not get Lyme disease because we had never had this disease here in Ohio," Edwards said. "Only in the last two years have we seen a significant increase in the number of Lyme cases as the disease spreads westward."

That means everyone from Connecticut to California to North Dakota to Texas must take precautions. The CDC offers the following tips:

-Use an insect repellent containing permethrin to treat clothing, such as boots, pants, socks and tents.

-Wear clothes pre-treated with permethrin.

Perform a thorough check of the body – on yourself, children and pets – as soon as you arrive from the outside. One of the easiest ways to do this is to undress and jump in the shower.

– Put the clothes in a dryer 10 minutes or more after their arrival to the outside. Also check and clean the lint filter.

Click here for more information from HealthLine.com.