HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvanians are being reminded to take precautions to avoid tick bites because some symptoms of Lyme disease are similar to those of COVID-19.
Ticks can carry Lyme disease and there has been an increase over the past several months in the number of emergency department visits related to tick bites, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine.
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“Some symptoms of Lyme disease, such as fever, chills and headache, are similar to symptoms of COVID-19. It is essential that all residents know the proper ways to protect themselves against ticks and are aware of the dangerous diseases they can carry. We want all Pennsylvanians to get outside and be healthy but do so in the safest way possible,” Levine said.
The following suggestions are given to help reduce the chances of getting a tick bite:
- Walk in the center of trails and avoid areas with high grass and leaf litter
- Use a repellent that contains at least 20% DEET
- Wear light-colored clothing
- Conduct full-body tick checks on yourself and on your pets after spending time outdoors
- Take a bath or shower within 2 hours after coming indoors
If bitten by a tick, people should monitor the area for any kinds of symptoms and contact their health care provider. Symptoms of Lyme disease can include:
- A red, swollen bulls-eye shape rash
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Muscle and joint aches
- Swollen lymph nodes
Some symptoms of Lyme disease that are similar to COVID-19 include:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Diarrhea
- Chills
- Repeated shaking with chills
- Muscle pain
- Headache
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