Why Tick Bites Are a Health Concern

Tick bites pose a serious risk because ticks can carry bacteria, viruses, or parasites that infect people. When a tick bites, it may transmit these pathogens into your bloodstream, which can lead to diseases like Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus, and others. Even ticks without known pathogens can cause allergic reactions or skin irritation.

Tick-borne diseases often begin with non-specific symptoms—fever, headache, fatigue, or rash—which can delay diagnosis. If untreated, some infections escalate and cause longer-term issues affecting joints, the heart, or the nervous system. Because signs can be mild at first, you might not realize the issue until the disease has progressed.

For someone considering using a walk-in clinic, knowing about tick bite risks matters: walk-in clinics can assess recent tick exposure, diagnose potential infection early, and in many cases start treatment quickly. Early intervention reduces chances of severe complications.

Where Are Ticks Prevalent in Ontario

Ticks, especially blacklegged ticks (also called deer ticks or Ixodes scapularis), are increasingly established in many parts of Ontario. According to Public Health Ontario, there are multiple “blacklegged tick established risk areas” where tick populations reproduce locally. These areas often align along the northern shores of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River.

Incidence of Lyme disease has been rising. In 2020, Ontario reported 5.7 confirmed cases per 100,000 people. In Ottawa, which is within an area of growing tick risk, the incidence in 2021 was 27 per 100,000, compared to the provincial average of about 11 per 100,000 in that same year.

Seasonally, ticks are most active in the spring, summer, and early fall. They thrive in humid conditions, leaf litter, wooded or brushy areas, tall grass, and along forest edges. However, any environment with suitable hosts (deer, mice, birds) and enough moisture can support tick populations.

Types of Ticks in Ontario

There are many types of ticks recorded in Ontario; some are established, others are adventive (arriving but not yet reproducing locally), and some are travel-related. Among the established species, these are the most relevant to human health:

  • Blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis): This tick is the main concern for Lyme disease. It also can carry other pathogens. It has increased its range in Ontario.
  • American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis): Common. Less likely to transmit Lyme disease. It more often causes bites and possible local reactions.

Other ticks of interest:

  • Groundhog tick (Ixodes cookei)

 

 

  • Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) – Not established fully in Ontario in all areas but reported in southern parts (including Wellington County, London, and Waterloo) and often transported by migratory animals. It can carry pathogens and may cause allergic reactions.

Understanding which type bit you matters because some ticks are high risk for disease, others less so. A walk-in clinic can help identify the tick type, assess the risk, and determine what treatment or follow-up is needed.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is the most common illness spread by ticks in Ontario, and it is transmitted primarily through the bite of the blacklegged tick. The infection is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which can enter your bloodstream if an infected tick stays attached long enough, usually more than 24 hours.

Early symptoms often include fatigue, fever, headache, muscle aches, and the distinctive expanding rash known as erythema migrans. Not everyone develops the rash, which can make diagnosis more challenging. If untreated, the infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system, leading to arthritis, heart rhythm problems, or neurological symptoms.

Treatment is most effective when started early. A walk-in clinic can evaluate your risk, review the tick exposure, and prescribe antibiotics if appropriate. If you visit soon after noticing a bite, you improve your chances of avoiding long-term complications.

Other Health Risks from Ticks

Ticks in Ontario can carry pathogens other than Borrelia burgdorferi. Although Lyme disease is the most well-known, these additional risks are important to keep in mind:

  • Anaplasmosis – bacterial infection causing fever, muscle aches, and low white blood cell counts.
  • Babesiosis – parasite infection that affects red blood cells, sometimes severe in older or immunocompromised individuals.
  • Powassan virus – rare but serious virus that can cause encephalitis and meningitis.
  • Borrelia miyamotoi disease – relapsing fever illness transmitted by the same tick species that carry Lyme disease.
  • Rocky Mountain spotted fever – uncommon in Ontario but possible from imported ticks.

Recognizing these risks highlights the importance of getting medical advice quickly after a bite. Walk-in clinics can provide an initial assessment and guide you to further care if advanced testing or specialist involvement is needed.

How To Recognize a Tick Bite

Identifying a tick bite is not always easy, especially because ticks are small and often painless when they attach. These steps can help you recognize a possible bite:

  1. Check for the tick itself – look closely at your skin for a small dark or reddish-brown insect attached firmly.
  2. Look for a small red bump – after removal, a mild reaction like a mosquito bite is common.
  3. Watch for an expanding rash – a circular or bull’s-eye rash spreading from the site can indicate Lyme disease.
  4. Notice unusual symptoms – fever, fatigue, or muscle aches after outdoor exposure may point to a tick bite.
  5. Inspect high-risk areas – ticks often attach behind the knees, in the armpits, at the waistline, or on the scalp.

Prompt recognition allows you to remove the tick safely and seek medical help sooner. A walk-in clinic visit can confirm whether treatment is necessary and provide guidance on monitoring for signs of illness.

What To Do If You’ve Been Bitten by a Tick

If a tick bites you, acting quickly and correctly can lower your risk of disease. The following steps help you manage the situation and decide if you need medical care:

  1. Remove the tick safely — Use clean fine-point tweezers, grasp the tick close to the skin, and pull straight up with steady pressure. Do not twist or jerk.
  2. Clean the bite area and your hands — Wash with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer or rubbing alcohol.
  3. Preserve the tick (if possible) — Place it in a sealed bag or container, or in alcohol. Note where and when the bite occurred (date, location on body, where you were). This helps if testing or identification is required.
  4. Monitor for symptoms for about 30 days — Watch for fever, chills, aches, rash (especially expanding or bull’s-eye type), fatigue, or swelling near the bite.
  5. Consider antibiotic prophylaxis under certain conditions — If the tick was a blacklegged tick, was attached > 24 hours, removed in the past 72 hours, acquired in a high-risk area, and you have no contraindications (e.g. allergy), a single dose of doxycycline may be recommended. Otherwise, wait and see while monitoring symptoms.
  6. Seek medical attention — If you develop symptoms, or if you’re unsure about the tick species, the risk, or your health condition (pregnancy, young child, immunocompromised etc.), go to a clinic. A walk-in clinic can assess, decide if testing or treatment is needed.

How To Prevent Tick Bites

You can significantly reduce your risk of being bitten by a tick by following these preventive steps every time you go into tick habitat or wooded/brushy areas:

  1. Wear protective clothing — Long sleeves, long pants tucked into socks, closed-toe shoes; light-coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily.
  2. Use repellents — Apply insect repellent approved for ticks on your skin or clothing; treat boots, pants with permethrin if possible.
  3. Stick to paths — Avoid walking through tall grass, dense bushes, or leaf litter; stay on trails or clear ground.
  4. Perform tick checks soon after being outdoors — Check your body thoroughly (scalp, armpits, groin, behind knees) and check clothes and gear.
  5. Shower soon after returning indoors — Showering within a couple of hours of coming indoors can help wash off ticks before they attach.
  6. Manage your environment — Around your home, clear brush, mow grass, remove leaf litter; create separation between lawn and wooded areas.

Ontario Tick Resources

Here are useful resources in Ontario to help you with tick-bite risk, identification, prevention, and what to do afterwards:

 

 

 

 

 

  • eTick: a photo-based identification platform for ticks, useful if you want to identify a tick you found.

Book a Same-Day Walk-in Clinic Appointment at Infinity Health

If you’ve been bitten by a tick or are worried about possible symptoms, we’re here to help. At Infinity Health, we can assess your risk, provide treatment if needed, and give you peace of mind. Book a same-day walk-in appointment with us today and let’s take care of your health together.

Infinity Health Locations

Toronto: 39 Lower Simcoe Street, Toronto, ON M5J 3A6

Oakville (Bronte Village): 2441 Lakeshore Rd W, Oakville, ON L6L 5V5

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