SALT LAKE CITY — The headline is out there, and it's making us itch. We are seeing an uptick in ticks. It's an annual warning, but this year health experts are really leaning in hard and advising every parent to know what to watch for and what to do.
Why tick populations are increasing
KSL Medical Contributor Phil Cowley shared why this year is so different.
“ Everything that we did with the winter, everything about it … the ticks have just absolutely loved this year,” he explained.
Cowley explained that the biggest concern with ticks isn’t actually the bite itself, it’s what they can transmit.
“There’s almost a half a million diseases that come from tick bites every year inside of the United States,” he explained.
Risks of various tick-borne diseases
You're probably familiar with Lyme disease, but it’s not the only disease ticks carry. And, there’s a newer issue gaining attention.
“Here in Utah, we have a lot of Rocky Mountain fever,” Cowley noted. “Now we have to worry about alpha‑gal, which is a way that our body becomes allergic to red meat.”
The alpha-gal red meat allergy
He explained that inside the tick’s mouth, they have a protein called alpha‑gal.
“Our immune system sees it and says, ‘Hey, that’s awful,’” he said. “ It's what you find inside of red meat. So we build an immune response to that. Then when you eat pork or beef … you’ll start getting full‑on reaction to red meat.”
Common locations for finding ticks
Cowley said that one of the biggest misconceptions about ticks is where they live.
“A lot of people think you have to go out in the mountains to get it,” he said. “You’re finding them in your backyards, you're finding them at parks … One of the very best ways for us to get a tick is to hang out with deer.”
Symptoms to Watch For
Many people associate tick‑borne illness with a telltale rash, but Cowley said that it's not always present.
“About 30% of the time you won’t get that bullseye rash,” he noted.
Instead, symptoms can look more like a common illness.
“You start getting flu symptoms 24 to 48 hours after you’ve been someplace where a tick’s been,” he explained.
Bullseye rash
Fever and chills
Body aches and fatigue
Facial drooping or numbness
Joint pain or swelling
How to Prevent Tick Bites
Reducing your risk starts with preparation.
“Wear light‑colored clothing that covers a lot,” Cowley said.
Light colors make ticks easier to spot. Repellent is another important step.
“DEET still works on any exposed skin,” he emphasized. “ You can buy this stuff called permethrin. It's the same stuff they use for lice and you can spray your clothes before you go out and then it deters them even more.”
Cowley emphasized that one of the most effective ways to prevent illness is a tick check.
“You check your arms, your armpits, your neck, behind your knees, your groin,” he explained, “If you can get rid of a tick in 24 to 48 hours, most of those diseases aren’t transferred.”
Use DEET on exposed skin
Treat clothing and gear with permethrin
Check behind knees, scalp, groin and armpits
Shower after outdoor exposure
Wear light-colored clothing
Check pets for ticks
Find more advice from Phil Cowley online @philsmypharmacist.
This story was adapted from a TV broadcast script using artificial intelligence. Every story, including those adapted with AI, is reviewed by a human editor before publication to ensure that KSL's editorial standards are upheld.
