ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER AND REMOVAL OF A TICK
PROBLEM
Ticks are vectors for Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
CAUSE
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is caused by a bacterium, Rickettsia rickettsii, carried by ticks, most commonly the dog tick.
PREVENTION
A.Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
B.Wear light-colored clothes to make ticks easier to spot. Wear long sleeves and tuck pants into the socks to form a barrier. Tumble clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothes after you come indoors.
C.Stick to hiking trails. Avoid contact with overgrown foliage. Ticks prefer dense woods with thick growth of shrubs and small trees as well as along the edge of the woods.
D.Check for ticks after each outdoor activity, especially hairy regions of the body (under arms, in and around ears, belly button, behind knees, between legs, waist and beltline, and hair and scalp) where ticks often attach. Check for ticks prior to bathing.
E.E.Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors to wash off; this makes it easier to find ticks that are crawling on you.
F.Remove ticks promptly (see the following instructions).
G.Inspect pets daily and remove ticks when present.
H.Some manufacturers currently offer permethrin-treated clothing that is effective for up to 20 washings. This clothing is not recommended for children.
I.Antibiotic therapy to prevent Rocky Mountain spotted fever is not recommended for tick exposure. Instead, tell your healthcare provider if any symptom, especially fever and headache, occurs in the following 14 days.
J.Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, OLE, PMD, or 2-undecanone. EPA’s helpful search tool can help you find the product that best suits your needs. Always follow product instructions. The EPA website is available at https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents:
1.Do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months old.
2.Do not use products containing OLE or PMD on children under 3 years old.
PRECAUTIONS
A.Do not hold a lighted match or cigarette to the tick. Do not apply gasoline, kerosene, or oil to the tick’s body.
B.Old treatments, including using nail polish or petroleum jelly, should not be used to remove ticks.
TICK REMOVAL
A.Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin’s surface as possible.
B.Wash your hands and the tweezers with soap and water prior to beginning.
C.Grasp the tick with a fine-tip tweezer close to the skin. Remove by gently pulling upward with steady, even pressure without using any twisting motions (see illustrations that follow).
D.If the mouth parts break off and remain in the skin, remove the mouth parts with the tweezers.
E.If unable to remove the mouth easily with clean tweezers, leave it alone and let the skin heal.
F.Clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or soap and water.
G.Do not crush or squeeze the tick during removal or with your fingers.
H.Dispose of a live tick by putting it in alcohol, placing it in a sealed bag/container, wrapping it tightly in tape, or flushing it down the toilet.
FIGURE III.9 Grasp the tick’s body close to the skin using a fine-tip tweezer. Avoid squeezing the body.
FIGURE III.10 Remove by pulling the tick straight upward without using twisting motions.
TREATMENT PLAN
Activity: If the tick is removed, monitor for signs and symptoms of illness for up to 30 days.
Diet: Eat regular diet. Drink eight to 10 glasses of water daily.
Medications:
A.Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, etc.) may be taken for body aches and fever.
B.You may be given an antibiotic for secondary infection, if needed. Finish all antibiotics, even if you are feeling better.
You Have Been Prescribed: ___________________________________________________________
You Need to Take: ___________________________________________________________
Take all of your antibiotic even if you feel better.
EMERGENT ISSUES/INSTRUCTIONS
1.Go to the hospital for any alteration in mental status, change in behavior, stiff neck, severe headaches, seizure, nausea and vomiting, severe weakness, dizziness, or high fever.
2.Go to the hospital if you have chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling, hearing loss, or skin changes.
You Need to Notify the Office If You Have:
A.No improvement while on antibiotic therapy.
B.Development of a high fever.
C.Rash that increases instead of improving.
D.Decreased urinary output.
E.Other: ___________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________