A red ladybug with black spots crawling on human skin.
Hackensack Meridian Health experts want people to be aware of the complications that can arise from a seemingly simple bug bites and ticks - ranging from bug borne illnesses to skin infections.Unsplash

Bug Bites and Ticks: HMH Experts Explain What You Need To Know This “Summer of Bugs”

The Centers for Disease Control report that the number of tick-related diseases have quadrupled nationwide during the past decades.
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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. 

Given the very wet spring and early summer we’ve had in the tri-state area, bug-borne illnesses, particularly those transmitted by mosquitoes and ticks will be a concern.
Dr. Stefan Hagmann, Infectious Diseases lead, at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University

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

A red lesion on the ankle region from a tick bite.
African tick bite fever - leg lesion.Wikimedia commons

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. 
An pipe structure mounted on concrete in a pond filled with green lily pads and stagnant water, surrounded by greenery.
Standing water can become a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes. To reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illnesses, it’s crucial to eliminate stagnant water sources.Unsplash

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)

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