Rocky Mountain
Spotted Fever (RMSF) is caused by a bacterium known as
Rickettsia rickettsii
You can't catch RMSF from another person—you catch
it from a tick bite
It is spread by the bite of the American dog tick. Ticks
must be attached to the body for at least 4 to 6 hours
before they pass RMSF bacteria to humans. Not every tick
bite causes RMSF.
Symptoms appear 3 to 14 days after a tick bite
People with RMSF may have flu-like symptoms, high
fever (above 101F), headache, nausea or vomiting, tiredness,
stiff neck, joint pain, and swollen lymph nodes. After
3 to 5 days of symptoms, a red rash usually appears
on the hands and feet and then spreads to the rest of
the body. If the disease is not treated, it can cause
death.
Anyone can get RMSF
People may be exposed when they spend time outdoors
in tick-infested areas (such as wooded, brushy, or grassy
places). Pets can bring ticks indoors and that may pose
a risk to the household. RMSF is commonly seen during
April through September, but can occur anytime during
the year when there is warm weather.
Early diagnosis of RMSF is important. If you think
you have RMSF, see your health care provider.
Early signs and symptoms of illness and a history of
a tick bite help diagnose RMSF. Blood tests are available,
but may be negative if done in the early stage of illness.
If early blood tests are negative, a follow up test
is recommended two to three weeks later.
RMSF can be treated with antibiotics
Call your doctor if you think you have RMSF or if you
feel sick after getting a tick bite.
You can prevent RMSF
- Avoid areas heavily infested with ticks (woods, tall
grassy areas).
-
Use tick repellent according to the
directions on the product label.
-
Wear light-colored clothes to help
spot ticks.
-
Wear protective clothing (long pants
and long-sleeved shirts, tuck pant legs into socks,
and tuck shirt into pants) when in areas where you may
have frequent or prolonged exposure to ticks.
-
Inspect your entire body (head to toe)
for ticks after being outdoors.
-
Inspect both your children and pets
for ticks after they have been outdoors.
-
Remove an attached tick by grasping
the tick close to the skin surface and pulling straight
back with steady force; use pointed tweezers to grasp
the tick. If fingers must be used, protect bare hands
with gloves, cloth, or tissue. Do not squeeze the tick's
body or use petroleum jelly, lighted cigarettes, matches,
or alcohol. Clean the bite site after removing a tick,
and then wash your hands.
-
Mark on your calendar when a tick is
taken off your body. This information will be useful
to your doctor.
-
Keep the grass in your yard cut; remove
leaves and leaf litter; clear brush from the yard.
are PDF. Download