Doctor issues warning over hidden symptoms of Lyme disease as tick bites near record highs in US states

Doctors are warning about the risks of Lyme disease as parts of the US are currently experiencing record numbers of tick bites.

An estimated 31 million people, almost one in 10, living in the US experience a tick bite every single year, according to a scientific study, and now 'tis the season for the ticks to takeover, medics are warning about the potential dangers.

The hot, humid summer months create the perfect storm for the parasites to thrive as the ectotherms flourish in the heat; moving more, reproducing more quickly and easily finding their victims to sink their teeth into, from birds to other animals and us humans, too.

Global warming is only exacerbating matters, as the cranked up temperature has meant the tick's time to shin has extended beyond the summer months - and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they've been even busier this year already than usual.

The tiny parasites feed on the blood of mammals and birds (Getty Images)

According to the latest data, patients seeking treatment for tick bites reached five-year highs in May, June and the first week of July this year.

The CDC notes the northeast area of the country is particularly affected having noted 125 emergency room visits for tick bites per 100,000 visits in the region so far in 2025 - the highest since 2017.

The Fordham Tick Index adds the tick bite risk spanning the tristate area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut came to a nine out of 10 for the week's end of July 4, while in June it soared to 10.

Biologists at the Louis Calder Center field station in Westchester said the risk was so bad that residents should 'consider going to a movie' instead of enjoying outdoor activities.

Ticks can infect people with Lyme disease (Getty Images)

Lyme disease is an infection that can lead to bell's palsy, pressure around the brain, headaches or vision changes, lymphocytic meningitis and even nerve damage, and continues to be the prevailing threat of tick bites as these gruesome neurological symptoms show.

The disease is actually caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi, Health reports, which is spread from the bites of infected ticks.

As there's no vaccine to prevent it, doctors are now warning about the symptoms and advise seeking medical treatment immediately if you suspect you've been bitten.

A tick bite may show up as an oval 'bull's-eye rash' on the skin, though typically most people who have been infected don't notice as the evil critters secrete saliva with anesthetic properties that make their bites painless.

A common sign is a bull's-eye rash (Getty Images)

Yet after exposure, symptoms like fever, headaches, nausea and muscle pain can kick in between three to 30 days.

If you do happen to catch a tick attached to your skin, the CDC says to remove it straight away to reduce the risk of transmission.

While Lyme disease can fortunately be treated after a short course of antibiotics, it's not the only infection ticks can spread.

Other bacterial infections, anaplasmosis and babesiosis, and Powassan virus, can also spread from bites, with the latter even infecting people in as little as 15 minutes after a bite.

Some ticks can also pose a host of other problems for their victims, like the lone star tick which has caused people to become allergic to red meat, and the American dog tick or brown dog tick which can spread a serious infection that is so severe that people require limb amputations.

To protect yourself, Johns Hopkins Medicine Lyme Disease Research Center advises to avoid long grass, wear protective clothing like long sleeves and use insect repellant.