Death of
Wilkes County Resident a Tragic Reminder
of Need for Tick Safety Diligence
July 11, 2008
RALEIGH -- The recent
death of a Wilkes County resident
believed to have been caused by Rocky
Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a sad
reminder that North Carolinians and
visitors to our state must be especially
diligent in protecting themselves from
tick bites and in monitoring their health
if bitten.
“Unfortunately,
North Carolina often has the highest
number of reported Rocky Mountain spotted
fever cases in the country,” State
Health Director Leah Devlin said.
“There were 665 cases reported
statewide during 2007 – with one
death – and we expect to have a
similar number this year. Sadly,
the death of the Wilkes County resident
demonstrates that the disease can
sometimes be fatal, so we urge everyone
in our state to take precautions
seriously.”
......... ..............................
..............Male
Dog Tick
.................................Female
Dog Tick
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a
disease caused by the bacterium
Rickettsia rickettsii (rick-ETT-see-uh
rick-ETT-see-eye) and is carried by
ticks. If bitten by an infected
tick, a person will usually start having
fever, severe headaches and nausea within
about a week or two. A few days
after the illness begins, they will often
develop a red-spotted rash, usually
starting on their arms or ankles.
They also may have pain in their
joints, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
Sometimes people with this illness become
very sick and have to go to the hospital.
Although deaths from RMSF are rare,
this case highlights the need for
preventing tick bites.
According to Dr. Devlin, while it is
possible for a person to be bitten by a
tick and not know it, those who do know
should be sure to mark the date they
found and removed the tick. RMSF is
treatable with antibiotics, but
complications can still occur.
“This information could be a
tremendous help to doctors should you
become ill,” she said. “It
is also helpful if the tick can be saved
so its species can be identified.
People who become ill should
promptly consult their doctor, so
treatment is started early.”
People can protect themselves from
Rocky Mountain spotted fever by limiting
their exposure to ticks:
- Wear light-colored clothing,
which allows you to see ticks
that are crawling on your
clothing.
- Tuck your pants legs into your
socks so that ticks cannot crawl
up the inside of your pants legs.
- Apply repellents to discourage
tick attachment. Always follow
package directions. Repellents
containing permethrin can be
sprayed on boots and clothing,
and will last for several days.
Repellents containing DEET can be
applied to the skin, but will
last only a few hours before
reapplication is necessary. Use
DEET with caution on children
because using doses larger than
recommended may cause adverse
reactions.
- Conduct a body check upon return
from potentially tick-infested
areas by searching your entire
body for ticks. Use a hand-held
or full-length mirror to view all
parts of your body. Remove
any tick you find on your body.
- Check children for ticks,
especially in their hair, when
returning from potentially
tick-infested areas. Ticks
may also be carried into the
household on clothing and on
pets, so both should be examined
carefully to exclude ticks.
Even when a tick is infected, several
hours of attachment are required (at
least 4 to 6) before it may transmit the
infectious agent that causes RMSF.
If you are bitten by a tick, remove the
tick immediately to reduce the chance of
infection. To remove a tick:
- Use fine-tipped tweezers, and
protect your fingers with a
tissue, paper towel, or latex
gloves. Do not remove ticks with
your bare hands.
- Using the tweezers, grasp the
tick as close to the skin surface
as possible and pull upward with
steady, even pressure. Do not
twist or jerk the tick; this may
cause the mouthparts to break off
and remain in the skin.
- Wash the bite area thoroughly
with soap and water. Also wash
your hands.
- Note date of removal. If you
develop symptoms, this could be
important information to share
with your doctor.
- Tape the tick to a white card,
and write the date on the card,
so if you become sick later the
species of tick can be
identified.
For more information about RMSF and
other tick borne illness, see the N.C.
Division of Public Health web site at www.epi.state.nc.us/epi/tick.
For more information on ticks, visit the
Public Health Pest Management web site at
www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/phpm/index.html.
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