SUNDAY, July 5, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- People who spend lots of time outdoors in the summer need to be careful about insect bites, an expert says.
Certain insects, such as ticks and mosquitoes, may be carriers of disease, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever, said Dr. George Ruggiero, chief of family medicine and director of medical education at Peconic Bay Medical Center in New York.
Anyone who develops headache, fever, chills and aches after flu season ends should consider the possibility that they've been bitten, he said. People who develop a rash should also be seen by a doctor, he added.
"A combination of education and taking the right precautions are the best ways to prevent mosquito- and tick-borne diseases," Ruggiero said in a medical center news release. "Always be cognizant of your surroundings and diligent in your self-examination in order to prevent any serious reactions."
There are other steps people can take to protect themselves from insect bites in the summer, such as:
Anyone who does find a tick on them should take it off. The best way to remove the insect is with a good pair of tweezers, Ruggiero said. Grab the tick as close to the skin as possible and lift it slowly and steadily, he advised.
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides more summer safety tips.