FORT SILL, Okla. -- With fall soon approaching, people in Oklahoma need to be aware of ticks while outside. Ticks are most common here between late spring and early fall. In Oklahoma, the diseases associated with ticks are Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), Ehrlichiosis, Tularemia, Lyme disease, and Southern Tick Associated Rash Illness(STARI). It is important to remember that less than 1 percent of ticks are infected and will only transmit diseases after several hours of feeding on a host. Early detection and removal of ticks is important as ticks transmit disease only while feeding. If removed within 24 hours, ticks have almost no chance of transmitting diseases.
Oklahoma ranks in the top three states in reporting cases of RMSF, with between 50 to 100 cases per year. Lyme disease cases reported in Oklahoma range from 13 to 38 cases per year. RMSF symptoms usually appear three to 14 days after the bite and include fever, chills, muscle aches and headaches.
In about 50 percent of RMSF patients, a spotty rash occurs on the feet and hands within two to three days of the fever. Nervous symptoms such as sleeplessness, restlessness and delirium may also occur. If these symptoms occur, seek medical help immediately. Prompt treatment usually results in complete recovery, but if left untreated, mortality rate can be as high as 20 percent.
Ticks are found on grass and other ground vegetation until a person or animal walks by. Once the host goes by, the tick will use its front legs to climb onto the host and feed. To reduce your chances of a tick-related disease, use the following precautions:
Avoid wooded and brushy areas with high grass and leaf litter.
Wear insect repellent containing at least 20 percent DEET on skin and clothing.
Wear long pants, long sleeves and long socks; tuck pant legs into socks or shoes and keep shirts tucked in. Wear light colored clothing so you can spot ticks more easily.
Use tick medicine or collars on dogs and cats, and check regularly for ticks.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors.
Check for ticks daily if you spend time outdoors. If a rash or fever develops within several weeks of removing a tick, see a doctor.
Remove ticks by grasping the tick as close to the skin's surface as possible with fine-tipped tweezers and pulling with slow, steady pressure until the tick is removed. Do not twist or jerk.
Never use nail polish, petroleum jelly, heat or other home remedies to remove ticks. Once removed, clean the bite area and your hands with rubbing alcohol, iodine scrub, or soap and water. If a rash or fever develops within several weeks of removing the tick, see a doctor. All tick-borne diseases can be treated effectively with antibiotics, especially if treatment is started early.
For more information about ticks, visit the U.S. Army Public Health Command's Entomological Sciences Program at http://phc.amedd.army.mil/topics/envirohealth/epm/.
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