06/02/2025
🌿 TICK SEASON ALERT FOR TENNESSEE FAMILIES! 🌿
As summer fun ramps up, so does the risk of tick-borne illnesses for our kids. 🐜🌳 In Tennessee, the biggest concerns are Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), ehrlichiosis, and rickettsiosis. Lyme disease is rare in Tennessee, but it’s important to know about it, especially if you’re traveling.
🗓️ When? Peak tick season in Tennessee is from May to July, when infected ticks are most active and kids are more likely to be outdoors.
🕷️ Top Tick Types in Tennessee:
Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum)
American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum)
🚫 Prevention Strategies:
✅ Dress smart! Long sleeves, pants tucked into socks.
✅ Use EPA-registered repellents: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or permethrin-treated clothing.
✅ Do regular tick checks after playing outside, especially behind ears, around waistbands, and at hairlines.
✅ Prompt removal is critical! Use fine-tipped tweezers to gently pull out ticks as soon as possible—ideally within a few hours. The risk of disease transmission jumps if a tick stays attached for more than 24–48 hours.
💊 Antibiotics? In Tennessee, routine antibiotic treatment after a tick bite is not recommended unless there’s a rare, high-risk Lyme disease exposure (which is not common here). There’s no vaccine to prevent these diseases either, so prevention and prompt removal are your best defenses.
📝 Stay Informed & Stay Safe! Education and tick awareness go a long way to keep your kids healthy while they enjoy the great outdoors.