Mom Shares Tick Warning After Visit to Local Farm

A woman by the name of Jennifer Velasquez posted on Facebook with a warning for others. It turns out she wore flip-flops to a pumpkin patch with her family and got a tick bite! As if that’s not bad enough, she got what’s known as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. A disease that is commonly found in certain species of ticks. Despite this happening a few years ago her experience is still a relevant and valuable lesson.

 In her post, Jennifer said, ” I couldn’t walk, my whole body was in pain, my hair fell out, and I almost died. I’m still healing from all this. Don’t be dumb and wear flip flops like me. CHECK FOR TICKS!” She posted a picture of a rash, one of the symptoms of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Jennifer resides in California where ticks were pretty uncommon at the time. While Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is not common in America, around 20,000 yearly cases, it is a deadly disease so being mindful is always the safest route to take. 

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What Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

According to the CDC, RMSF is a bacterial disease that is contracted through the bite of infected ticks. It damages the lining of the smallest blood vessels known as Capillaries. Capillaries then leak or form clots.

Symptoms Include:

•  Rash, red, and surprisingly doesn’t typically itch or cause discomfort. It generally appears three to five days after the tick bite and starts first on your wrists and ankles before moving to other parts of the body. It goes down into the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, and up your arms and legs to your torso.
• A high fever usually 102 degrees Fahrenheit
• Severe headache, confusion, or other neurological changes by causing inflammation to the brain. 
• Shortness of breath or chest pains. The lungs and heart become inflamed. 
• Muscle aches due to inflammation 
• Nausea, possible Vomiting.

According to MayoClinic when left untreated Rocky Mountain spotted fever has had an 80 percent death rate. Although it is not a common or well-known disease, ticks are everywhere so it is important to be well-educated. It is especially important if you’re an outdoors kind of person or have a big grassy backyard. 

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Where Do These Ticks Live?

RMSF is carried by a number of tick species including the dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick. They are found in parts of Mexico as well as all over the US. The most common reports come from North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. 

Ticks burrow into their hosts and most often feed on wild animals so many have migrated with their hosts to other parts of the country. They live most commonly in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas. Spending a lot of time outdoors hiking, camping, or even snuggling up with a pet who spends all day outside can increase the chances you’ll encounter ticks at some point. 

How to Prevent a Bite.

While there is no way to guarantee you’ll never encounter ticks there are some things you can do to minimize the likelihood of being bitten. Treat clothing and gear with products containing at least 0.5% permethrin. You can also buy clothing or hiking/camping gear that has already been treated. Permethrin is waterproof and can be used on shoes/boots, clothing, and outdoor gear. Always wear closed-toe shoes and long sleeve shirts and pants.

Tucking your pants into your socks can prevent ticks from getting in the pant leg and climbing up to other parts of the body. When coming in from outdoor activity, do a full body check to ensure there are no ticks hidden in crevices. Places to be mindful of are:

• The armpits
• Around the waist/pant line
• In between the legs
• In and behind the ears
• The belly button
• The back of the knees
• Hair(head or body)

Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. For damp fabrics, additional time is probably needed. If the clothing is muddy or dirty and needs a wash before going in the dyer, they should be done in hot water because a more mild temperature will not kill the ticks.

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What to Do if Someone in Your House Gets a Tick Bite. 

The first thing you should do is remove ticks using a pair of tweezers. They burrow so as unpleasant as it is, you may have to do some digging to get them out. Be aware that their bodies can detach but the head can continue to feed so it is vital that you remove the entire body. Soak the ticks in alcohol to make sure they’re dead.

RMSF is thought to be the deadliest disease associated with tick bites they do carry other debilitating diseases such as Lyme disease. Because ticks feed the blood of the hosts they’ve attached themselves to, most diseases associated with them affect the blood, nervous, or immune system. If anyone in your house, pets included, gets a tick bite you should consult with a doctor or vet regardless of if they are exhibiting symptoms or not. RMSF is treated with antibiotics and if caught in time could save a life.

When consulting a medical professional it is helpful if you have the tick so it can be sent to the lab and analyzed for disease. Jennifer’s experience was uncommon because it happened in the fall. Infections contracted by ticks or more often reported in Spring and early Summer. Her experience is a welcome reminder to all to be mindful when outdoors because there are a number of wild animals and bugs that can cause serious harm if we aren’t mindful of when or how we might encounter them. Or what to do if we do.

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