9 Foolproof Tricks to Avoid Tick-Borne Illnesses

Avoiding a tick bite is the best protection against tick-borne illnesses, including one that’s more dangerous than Lyme disease. Enjoy the great outdoors with our expert-approved advice.

Ticks can be infected with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Some of the most common tick-borne diseases in the United States include Lyme disease, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lyme disease causes fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash, and if left untreated, can spread to a person’s joints, heart, and nervous system. Of particular concern is Powassan disease, which is reportedly on the rise. Marked by fever, headache, vomiting, weakness, confusion, seizures and memory loss, this tick-borne illness may cause long-term neurological damage, according to the CDC.

Read the full article by Denise Mann on Reader's Digest.