Watch out for SC’s 5 most common ticks and take steps to avoid bites

• Ticks are active year-round in South Carolina but are most prevalent from April to September.
• The Lone star tick, common in the state, can cause a red meat allergy known as alpha-gal syndrome.
• Other common ticks in South Carolina include the Black-legged, Gulf Coast, American Dog, and Brown Dog ticks.
• Preventative measures include using EPA-approved repellent and avoiding areas with tall grass and brush.

Lone star, Gulf Coast, and American Dog are some of the unique names for South Carolina’s most common bloodsucking ticks that are out and about now that the summer season is in full swing.

One of the ticks in particular has been making headlines recently for causing alpha-gal syndrome, an immune system reaction that makes those bitten allergic to red meat.

If you plan to spend much of your time outdoors this summer, you’ll want to take precautions to avoid tick bites and tick-borne diseases. Here’s what to know about the Palmetto State’s most common ticks and why you should steer clear of tall grass.

Are ticks active year-round in South Carolina?

Tick season is active year-round in South Carolina due to the state’s mild winters. They are most active in the warmer months from April to September, increasing the risk of exposure during the period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What is questing?

The National Library of Medicine defines “questing” as a tick’s heat-seeking behavior in which they climb plants and stretch out their front legs, waiting to attach themselves to a passerby. During this process, ticks rely on sensing cues such as carbon monoxide, heat, and movement.

Common ticks in South Carolina

In South Carolina, five ticks are commonly observed. Here’s what they are and the diseases they carry, according to Clemson University:

Lone Star Tick

• The most common tick in South Carolina.
• Can cause alpha-gal allergy (meat allergy), ehrlichiosis (bacterial disease that causes fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue), and Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness (Lyme disease-like rash that may cause fatigue, fever, headache, muscle, or joint aches).

Black-legged Tick

• Found in low volume in South Carolina.
• Can transmit Lyme disease, tick-borne relapsing fever, and anaplasmosis (bacterial illness that causes fever, headache, chills, and muscle aches).

Gulf Coast Tick

• An important South Carolina tick that can cause Rickettsia parkeri, a recently identified disease that can cause spotted fever in humans.

American Dog Tick

• Transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, an illness that presents with fever, severe headache, muscle aches, and a characteristic rash that requires prompt treatment with doxycycline to prevent medical emergencies.

Brown Dog Tick

• Also transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Lyme disease and South Carolina ticks

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the country, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 476,000 patients are treated for it annually.

Black-legged ticks are the culprits behind the spread and must be removed within 24 hours of the bite to prevent infection.

Some of the symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, facial paralysis, an irregular heartbeat, arthritis, and a bull’s-eye rash. The disease has no cure, although treatment options are available.

Tips to prevent tick bites

The South Carolina Department of Public Health listed the following tips to reduce your chances of being bitten by a tick:

• Wear repellent containing 20% or more of any active ingredient approved by EPA as a tick repellent (such as DEET) year-round.
• Wear long pants tucked into socks.
• Pretreat clothing with 0.5% permethrin, which can provide protection even after a few washes.
• Avoid wooded and brushy areas with tall vegetation.
• Stay in the center of walking/hiking trails.
• Check in and around the hair and ears, under the arms, inside the belly button, around the waist, between the legs, and the back of the knees. These areas on the body are where ticks can hide.

How to safely remove a tick from the body

To safely remove a tick from the body, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick closely to the skin, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pull upwards with steady, even pressure without jerking or twisting the tick, as this may cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in the skin.

Upon removal, cleanse the bite area with soap and water. Apply an antiseptic like iodine, hydrogen peroxide, or rubbing alcohol.

Record the date of the bite and contact your doctor immediately if symptoms arise.

Nina Tran is the breaking news and education reporter for The Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her via email at ntran@usatodayco.com.