Lyme disease is even more widespread than we originally thought. Last August, the Centers for Disease Control upped its estimate of annual Lyme cases from 30,000 to 300,000 (check out this map of Lyme outbreaks). Ticks are hungriest (and smallest) from June through early August. This is known as the nymph stage, when ticks can be smaller than the head of a pin. This makes them even harder than usual to spot—especially since they often feed in out-of-the-way areas like the groin, armpits, and scalp. There are steps you can take to protect yourself. When you spend time outside, avoid leaning against trees, and always inspect your skin after sitting in grass. If you’re going to be in tick country, wear long pants and sleeves, and be sure to tuck pant legs into socks. Always use insect repellent (preferably with active ingredient DEET—it’s a chemical with definite drawbacks, but it’s still the most effective for tick protection). Once you’re home, shower as soon as possible, check your skin slowly and thoroughly, and remove any ticks you find. For added defense, toss your clothes into the dryer at high heat. Stowaway ticks won’t be able to survive the rising temperature. There is still no test for Lyme that’s 100% accurate. Even Lyme’s “signature” symptom, the bulls-eye rash, occurs in less than 50% of patients with the disease. “Since tests for Lyme may be falsely negative or falsely positive,” said LRA co-president Diane Blanchard in the press release, “Lyme should be diagnosed clinically, based upon a doctor’s evaluation of your symptoms and exposure to ticks. Don’t let symptoms go unchecked. “See a doctor if you develop what seems like a summertime flu,” Blanchard said, “even a few weeks or a couple of months after being in rural or suburban areas.” MORE: Why One Man Volunteered To Have 8 Blood-Sucking Ticks Attached To His Knee
