Deer Ticks in Florida

Life Cycle

• Deer ticks have four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, six-legged nymph and eight-legged adult. They typically switch host animals after each stage in their life cycle, and their movements are seasonal. Deer ticks are most active, and most dangerous to humans, during spring and fall months. Tick larvae prefer smaller hosts such as birds and mice, while nymphs and adults prefer larger hosts such as humans. Ticks do not jump or fly but find hosts through "questing": the tick holds on to a leaf with its rear legs and extends its forelegs in the air waiting for an animal to brush against it.
  
  

Prevention and Removal

• If you plan on spending time in a wooded area of Florida during the spring or fall, then wear long pants tucked into your socks. Wear light-colored clothing so you can quickly spot ticks. Avoid brushing plants along trails, as ticks can use their sense of smell to migrate to high-traffic areas. If you find a tick on you or someone else, then remove it with a pair of tweezers. Do not burn it with a match or use harsh chemicals. This could cause the tick to regurgitate its entire stomach contents into the host's bloodstream.
  
  

Babesiosis

• Babesiosis is a disease found in deer ticks in Florida and along the East Coast. The tick injects the host with tiny parasites that attack red blood cells. Many people who get infected do not develop symptoms and those who do tend to develop nonspecific symptoms such as a headache, nausea or a fever. Babesiosis can be fatal in people with immune system disorders or the elderly, as it can cause dangerously low blood pressure and lead to vital organ failure.
  
  

Lyme Disease

• Lyme disease is the most serious tick-borne disease in the U.S. Bacteria that live inside the tick and enter the host's bloodstream cause it. Early symptoms include a headache, a fever, fatigue and a rash called erythema migrans. When left untreated, Lyme disease can infect many different regions of the body, including the joints, heart or central nervous system. Effective treatment involves a multiweek antibiotic regiment. Untreated Lyme disease can go misdiagnosed for years because its symptoms mimic many common diseases. Regularly checking yourself for ticks is the best way to prevent from getting the disease, especially if you spend time in high-risk environments.