LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Experts are warning people that ticks are worse than ever this year.

Norton Healthcare's Dr. Joshua Brandon stopped by WDRB studios with some tips on preventing tick bites and what to do if you are bitten.

According to Brandon, about 10 percent of the U.S. population will get bitten by a tick in any given year, and 10 percent of those people will seek medical care.

Those numbers are growing, Brandon said, due to a milder winter and spring, making their breeding season longer.

Some ticks in the Louisville area can be more dangerous than others. 

"The main tick we hear about is the deer tick -- the black legged tick," Brandon said. "That one, basically, is the one that transmits Lyme disease."

If you discover a tick has been latched on to you for as long as 36 hours, Brandon said it's advisable to contact your healthcare provider. 

"If it has been attached for 36 hours or more, we can actually do prophylactic antibiotics," Brandon said. 

Symptoms of an infected tick bite include a bullseye shaped mark at the site of the bite. Other symptoms include headaches and severe fatigue. Call a doctor if you experience those symptoms after being bitten. 

As always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so prevent bites by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors in areas where there could be concentrations of ticks. Use repellents that contain a high percentage of DEET. 

Brandon said if you're not sure if ticks found their way to your clothing, remove it and throw it in the dryer. 

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