Tick bite risks increase during summer outdoor activities

Rising summer temperatures and increased outdoor activities have led to a higher prevalence of tick encounters. While most bites do not cause complications, these parasites can transmit serious infectious diseases, such as Mediterranean spotted fever.

Ticks often go unnoticed because they inject anesthetic and anticoagulant substances during feeding. They tend to attach to moist, hidden areas of the body, including the armpits, groin, behind the ears, scalp, and behind the legs. Medical experts recommend thorough body checks after spending time in wooded or vegetated areas.

Dr. Julio Muñoz of Hospital Vithas Valencia 9 de Octubre notes that tick bites are a frequent reason for medical consultations during the summer. While local redness, itching, or swelling are common reactions, patients should seek immediate medical attention if they experience fever, muscle aches, headaches, swollen lymph nodes, or persistent discomfort at the bite site.