Bug Bites and Ticks: HMH Experts Explain What You Need To Know This “Summer of Bugs”
Bug bites in the summer are a seasonal certainty. We’ve all had that red, itchy bump left behind by a pesky mosquito or other insect. But this year, during the “Summer of Bugs,” as it’s being dubbed, experts are reporting an uptick in bug bites and ticks as certain insect populations surge due to a combination of factors, including the weather.
Hackensack Meridian Health experts want people to be aware of the complications that can arise from a seemingly simple bite - ranging from bug borne illnesses to skin infections. And cases of such complications are rising.
The Centers for Disease Control report that the number of tick-related diseases have quadrupled nationwide during the past decades with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reporting a particular surge in emergency room visits due to tick bites, especially in the Northeast.
Diseases spread by ticks in New Jersey include:
Alpha-gal Syndrome
Anaplasmosis
Babesiosis
Borrelia Miyamotoi
Ehrlichiosis
Lyme Disease
Powassan Virus
Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis (including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever)
Tularemia
This summer, it’s worth noting Lyme Disease is the most common vector-borne illness, with an estimated 476,000 cases in the U.S. annually. These illnesses can range in severity from mild to life threatening. It’s important for anyone spending time outdoors to use insect repellant like DEET, wear protective clothing like long sleeves and do their best to eliminate breeding grounds like standing water for insects and check the entire body thoroughly for ticks after spending time outside.
Dr. Daniel Ruderfer, Infectious Diseases lead at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital at Jersey Shore University Medical Center
Common symptoms of these bug borne illnesses include:
Fever
Chills
Muscle Aches
Skin Rashes
Nausea
It is important to regularly check for ticks after spending time outside, because the severity of symptoms and likelihood of Lyme disease is significantly reduced if the tick is removed immediately and any necessary treatment is administered.
Ticks are not the only cause of illness. Other reports point to West Nile Virus is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the U.S. In 2024, there were 1,466 human cases – up from 1,035 just two years earlier.
Other diseases spread by mosquitoes include:
Dengue Fever (particularly from travelers returning from other areas)
Malaria
Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)
Zika
Cellulitis From An Infected Bug Bite: If you do get a bug bite, chances are you’ll want to scratch it. But in some cases itching can create a further infection called cellulitis - a bacterial skin infection that can be dangerous if not treated. Symptoms include redness, swelling, warmth, pain and sometimes fever.
What’s so dangerous about this kind of infection from a bite is that if left untreated, cellulitis can spread to other tissues in the body and even the bloodstream. If not caught in time, sepsis can occur. We can treat cellulitis with antibiotics, but patients need to see their doctor immediately if this bite presents with fever or if the area around the bite is swollen with a rash.
Infectious disease specialists at Hackensack Meridian Health are available to discuss concerns surrounding bug borne illnesses this season, as well as tips for protection and signs and symptoms of a problem.
Reference:
1) https://www.newswise.com/institutions/newsroom/10515/
(Newswise/HRN)
