BROWN DEER, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) - For many Wisconsinites the outdoors is the place to be, but that's also the case for thousands of ticks throughout the state.
The CDC reports that there are around 30,000 cases of Lyme disease reported nationwide each year... including 3,000 from the state of Wisconsin.
Ascension medical group physician-- doctor Bruce Rowe says the most common spot for ticks and Lyme disease are in northern Wisconsin.
"It's surprisingly common, fortunately a lot of us Wisconsinites are outdoors people, we are out a lot we are up north, we travel to wooded areas we are active with hiking biking, fishing things like that so we see ticks on people or history of a tick bite with surprising regularity," said Dr. Bruce Rowe, Ascension Medical Group. "A deer tick is incredibly tiny. An adult male or female deer tick is the size of the head of a pin, that's how small they really are."
Dr. Rowe says once someone's bitten and if the ticks attached, they can contract Lyme disease within just 24 hours.
Ticks like to hide a lot and sometimes you will not see the bite or rash right away. They like to be in the places like under the arms, behind the knees, and on the scalp. This can make it difficult to notice until symptoms like fatigue, tiredness, a rash or even a bullet looking rash begin to appear on the skin.
When this happens, Dr. Rowe says it's time to immediately see a doctor for treatment.
"I've seen Lyme disease in kids from 3 to 5 years of age to people from 70 to 75 years in age so it's really a wide variety," said Dr. Rowe.
So from April until the fall, which is prime tick season, it's best to keep your eyes peeled and be aware while enjoying the outdoors.