Along with these warmer days come the nuisances we all know as ticks. Everyone knows the feeling of finding a tick, that little “itch” or “tickle” that doesn’t feel quite right and turns into a frantic search for more. Then, you’re plagued with what seems like an endless case of the creepy crawlies that you never quite shake. However, there’s much more to ticks than just that little tickle.

Did you know that there are over 850 types of ticks? According to mayoclinic.org, many of these ticks carry dangerous diseases that can cause prolonged health issues and life changes.

One of these tick-borne illnesses is the very common Lyme disease, which is carried by many human-biting tick breeds. These breeds are most common in the upper Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic states. Lyme disease can also leave someone with lifelong joint pain and stiffness.

“Some of my patients have mentioned contracting Lyme disease when they were younger,” Marie Green, APRN-CMP, at CAMC GVMC Nephrology said. “They still suffer from inflamed joints from time to time.”

Another disease transmitted through ticks is the rising diagnosis of alpha-gal syndrome, which is carried only by lone star ticks. People who contract this disease develop a deadly allergy to red meat that can’t be cured. According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, lone star tick populations have spread from just the southern U.S. to many parts in the North. In fact, the lone star tick is now the most common tick breed in Maryland.

Johns Hopkins also states that the rate of tick-borne illnesses has been steadily rising due to climate change and people moving out to rural areas where ticks are prominent. So when you are out in nature in the future, remember to thoroughly check yourself for ticks, because the next time you feel that tickle, it might be more than that.