Chicago, IL — As warmer weather brings more outdoor activity across Illinois, health officials are reminding residents to take precautions against ticks, tiny parasites that can spread illness to both people and pets.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, ticks are small bugs related to spiders that live close to the ground in grassy, wooded, and brush-filled areas. The most common species in Illinois that can make people sick is the blacklegged tick, also known as the deer tick. Because these ticks are extremely small, they can sometimes appear as nothing more than a freckle or speck of dirt on the skin.
According to state health officials, people are most likely to encounter ticks while participating in outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, mushroom hunting, or walking pets through wooded areas and tall grass. Ticks wait on the tips of grass and shrubs and attach to animals or people passing by.
Unlike many insect bites, tick bites often do not hurt, meaning people may not realize they have been bitten. Ticks feed by drinking blood from animals and humans, and in some cases can transmit illnesses.
Health officials say symptoms such as fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, or fatigue that appear within 30 days of a tick bite could signal a tick-borne illness and should be evaluated by a doctor.
Prevention remains the best defense. Experts recommend wearing insect repellent when outdoors and avoiding areas with tall grass or heavy brush whenever possible. Wearing long sleeves and long pants, tucking pants into socks, and walking in the center of trails can also help reduce exposure.
After spending time outdoors, residents should shower and carefully check their bodies for ticks. Common hiding spots include the scalp, ears, under the arms, inside the belly button, around the waist, between the legs, and behind the knees.
Pets can also carry ticks indoors, so experts advise checking dogs and cats regularly, especially around the ears, eyelids, collar area, under the legs, between the toes, and near the tail.
If a tick is found attached to the skin, it should be removed promptly using tweezers and the bite area should be cleaned with soap and water or disinfectant.
Health officials say staying aware of tick habitats and performing regular tick checks can significantly reduce the risk of illness for both people and their pets.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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