North Carolina and the Dangers of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

While the name Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever may lead you to assume that this disease is the most prevalent in the western portion of the United States, this simply is not true. In fact, North Carolina regularly ranks as one of the states with the most reported cases in the United States each year.

Symptoms of Rocky Mountain Tick Fever

Initial symptoms include a severe headache, joint pain, muscle aches, stomach issues, fever and lack of appetite. These symptoms usually begin anywhere from two days to two weeks after a bite. A rash will appear between two to five days after the onset of the symptoms. The rash consists of small flat pink spots that will appear around the wrists, forearms and ankles. It can spread to the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. See the rash pictured above.

Treatment for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Fortunately, there is a treatment available for Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Antibiotics c n clear up the symptoms and the disease. It is important to seek treatment right away because there can be serious complications if you do not treat for the disease. You may also end up in the hospital if not treated early enough.

Preventing Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

If you can find the tick within the first 6-12 hours of it attaching, you are less likely to contract Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Regularly checking for ticks can help. It is also important to wear DEET when going into areas with a lot of ticks, as well as tucking your shirt in and tucking your pants into your socks.

Ticks are not only found out in the woods, but they can also be found in and around your yard. There are steps you can take to reduce ticks in your yard including keeping your grass cut short and free from debris. Additionally, you may want to consider treating your yard for ticks. This can reduce the chance of you or a family member contradicting the disease and allow you to rest easy when you send your children out to play. Contact Mosquito Tek to learn more about available tick control services.

Learn about 4 Most Common Mosquito Borne Illnesses in Virginia Beach

Comments

Can Tick Bites Really Cause an Allergy to Meat?

In the past few years there have been increasing reports of people developing allergies to meat after being bitten by a tick. This is formerly called an Alpha Gel allergy. Researchers in Virginia were among the first to discover it through clinical trials for a medication. Some patients were having a reaction to one component in the medication and would have similar allergic reactions to red meat or meat from mammals. Some people even have reactions to dairy products. What Tick Causes the Allergic Reaction? The Lone Star tick is the only tick that is currently known to spread the allergy to meat. The ticks are common in areas with high deer populations, since the Lone Star tick prefers to feed on the deer. You can identify a tick by looking at its back for a white dot in the center. If you find a tick attached to you, you will need to remove it right away, and then watch for symptoms. How Can I Tell if I Have an Allergy to Meat? The symptoms for the meat allergy will build over time....

Florence brings Flooding and Mosquitoes to PWC

As the remnants of Hurricane Florence have pushed farther north and west of the eastern seaboard, heavy rains have inundated areas of northern Virginia and caused flooding as far north as DC . Not only did the areas around the floodplains get a major increase in flooding, but the ground in general became heavily saturated with rainwater, thus providing a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes to lay eggs and increase their number. Mosquito Breeding in Wet Yard Areas Mosquitoes will typically lay their eggs in areas where rainwater collects naturally, such as in ponds and along the banks of rivers and streams, but with all the rain that Florence brought to Prince William County quite a few homeowners have noticed that mosquito populations have increased dramatically since the storm. This is because the mosquitoes can now easily lay their eggs in just about any location where there is still water pooling from the rains, and until the ground is fully dry this will continue unless action ...

Will the East Asian Tick Spread to the Arlington Area This Year?

The East Asian tick has made the news in the last few days because it is a new tick species that was identified as being in the United States this year. It was first identified last fall, but efforts were made to eradicate it. Unfortunately, scientists have determined that those efforts did not work, and the species has been established in New Jersey. Why Are People Concerned About the East Asian Tick? It is an extremely invasive species that originated in Asia. When it first spread to Australia it causes significant problems for farmers there. The ticks are often found around farms animals, but they can also be found on large animals like deer. The East Asian tick does carry the SFTS virus, which is a new virus that was first discovered in 2009. It has potential for serious complications and scientists worry about a potential outbreak. How Does the East Asian Tick Spread? The experts are not sure how the East Asian tick made its way to the United States. However, once it is...

Mosquito Tek

Search This Blog