Our local trails are calling, but the mention of Lyme Disease can put a damper on any outdoor adventure. Northern Indiana is a hot spot for tick activity and has been seeing an alarming increase in Lyme Disease cases. We have simplified the latest guidelines to help you enjoy our community’s beauty with total confidence.
Nymphs: The Poppy Seed Threat
The primary spreaders of Lyme disease are nymphs, or immature ticks. These tiny travelers are only the size of a poppy seed (less than 2 mm) and are nearly translucent. This makes “tick checks” more difficult than a simple glance. Because what you can’t easily see can still hurt you, it is vital to use mirrors to check hidden areas like the scalp, the belly button, and the back of the knees. Ticks typically surface in the Spring and will be very active April-June as they eat their first meals.
Removal
Old wives’ tales suggest using a hot match, nail polish, or petroleum jelly to “smother” a tick. These methods are dangerous. These irritants can cause the tick to regurgitate infected material directly into your skin, increasing your risk of disease. Instead, use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull straight up. Do not twist or jerk the tick, as this can cause the mouthparts to break off and remain in your skin.
The 36-Hour Safety Window
Finding an attached tick is stressful, but there is often a “grace period.” In most cases, an infected tick must be attached to the body for at least 36 to 48 hours before Lyme Disease can be transmitted.
Prevention
Protect your skin by using EPA-registered repellents like DEET. Clothing and gear can be treated with 0.5% permethrin, which can remain on the clothes after several washes.
At home, manage your habitat by clearing tall grass and leaf litter. Indiana Department of Health and CDC provide detailed information about ways to modify your yard and landscaping to reduce tick habitats. Ticks are remarkably resilient but they thrive in moist environments that are low to the ground. After spending time outside, the dryer is your best tool. Tumble dry clothes on high heat for 20+ minutes to kill ticks.
When to Seek Medical Evaluation
Call your doctor immediately if you remove an engorged tick (one that appears puffy or blood-filled) and live in a high-risk area like Northern Indiana. A single dose of doxycycline can be highly effective if administered within 72 hours of tick removal. Do not bother testing the tick itself; laboratories warn this provides a false sense of security and does not reliably predict human infection. Symptoms of Lyme Disease can vary depending on the stage of the disease. In 70-80% of Lyme Disease patients, a classic “bulls-eye” rash is present. During summer, do not ignore “flu-like” symptoms (such as fever, fatigue, and aches), relying solely on a skin lesion for diagnosis is a dangerous mistake.
Want to learn more?
Indiana recently launched a dashboard showing prevalence of tick-borne disease by county. Check it out to assess risk levels in areas where you live and spend your time outdoors. According to the dashboard, over 47% of adult ticks tested in Fulton county test positive for Lyme Disease (accessed 4/22/26)!
Awareness is your best repellent. Where will your next outdoor adventure take you?
