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Preventing tick-borne diseases With the passing of the Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start to summer comes a hidden danger which threatens all Missourians enjoying the outdoors. Ticks are responsible for more human diseases than any other insect in the United States. Ticks are typically found in wooded, brushy or grassy areas and can attach themselves to the skin with an undetectable bite. Ticks carrying infectious diseases can spread the illness to humans while consuming blood. “These disease symptoms can appear about three to 14 days after the tick bite,” said Michael Cooperstock, M.D., a specialist in infectious diseases at University of Missouri Health Care. “We primarily see four tick-related diseases in Missouri including tularemia, ehrlichiosis, Southern tick associated rash illness (STARI) and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.” Symptoms can very with each disease. Tularemia usually causes lymph node swelling near the tick bite, while ehrlichiosis can lead to a persistent fever and headache. STARI symptoms consist of a red ring around the tick bite that expands over several days, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever can cause fever, headaches and a rash that spreads from the bite throughout the body. Typically, symptoms will cease after seven to 14 days. However, in severe cases, hospitalization can be required and complications can lead to respiratory failure, circulation failure, blood and kidney problems, and even death if treatment is delayed. Although ticks are unavoidable in the outdoors, there are many preventive steps to avoiding a tick bite. Some of the steps include spraying a DEET formula insect repellant on your skin or a Permethrin insecticide on your clothing, wearing light-colored and long-sleeved clothing, tucking your pants into your socks, and checking yourself regularly for ticks. “The most important thing in preventing illness is to check yourself and your children after being outdoors,” said Cooperstock. “It’s best to set up a routine to check from head to toe every evening. Ticks can attach anywhere from your scalp to your ankles.” If an attached tick is found, remove it immediately. The longer the tick is attached, the greater the chances of acquiring a tick-borne disease. “The proper way to remove a tick is with fine-point tweezers. Take the tip of the tweezers and grasp the point where the tick is attached, while lifting up very gently perpendicular to the skin. Keep gently pulling for a short period of time and the tick will eventually come off,” said Cooperstock. Cooperstock says to avoid removing the tick with your fingers or products such as Vaseline, alcohol or heat. This can irritate the tick and increase the likelihood of contracting a tick borne disease. University of Missouri Health Care’s system of hospitals, clinics and telehealth sites employs approximately 6,000 clinicians, scientists, educators and other health professionals. The system includes University Hospital and Clinics, Children’s Hospital, Columbia Regional Hospital, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and University Physicians, all based in Columbia, Mo. The health system also includes a long-term acute care facility, Missouri Rehabilitation Center, in Mount Vernon, Mo. Academic affiliates of the health system include the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, Sinclair School of Nursing and School of Health Professions. Other affiliates of the health system include Rusk Rehabilitation Center in Columbia, Mo.; Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City, Mo., and Cooper County Memorial Hospital in Boonville, Mo. |
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