If you enjoy spending time outdoors, then you've probably noticed that there seems to be an abundance of ticks this year. The mild winter is probably at least partly to blame, but that really isn't important. What is important is that ticks are out there and they may be carrying dangerous germs. A tick that attaches to your skin can cause symptoms ranging from mild irritation to severe infection. Irritation isn't all that scary, there are a lot of things in this world that are irritating.
Germs are what makes ticks so scary.
Ticks can carry an arsenal of germs, but the Lyme disease bacteria are the most noteworthy. In fact, the annual total of reported cases increased 25-fold between 1982 and 1997. Lyme disease cases have been reported by 48 states and the District of Columbia, but cases are concentrated in the northeastern, northcentral and Pacific coastal regions. The Athens area is not a hot spot for lyme disease. However, people who spend much of their time outside are at a higher risk for contracting this disease.