Frequency of tick bites and associated care-seeking behaviors in the United States.

Tick-borne diseases are commonly reported in the United States, but frequency of tick bites and care-seeking behaviors following tick bites are poorly understood. We used nationally representative survey data to describe the frequency of tick bites among people living in the United States and how often, where, and why care-seeking associated with tick bites occurs. We found that over 31 million people (nearly 1 in 10) living in the United States might experience a tick bite each year and highlight regional trends in associated care-seeking behaviors. These findings emphasize the need for effective tick bite prevention education and regionally tailored healthcare provider recommendations for management of tick-borne diseases.