Are We at Risk for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Louisville?

You have probably heard the mention of Rocky Mountain spotted feverin the news lately. A toddler near Indianapolis succumbed to the illness a few weeks back, and each day there are new cases diagnosed across the country. Rocky Mountain Spotted fever is a disease spread by the bite of an infected tick. In Kentucky, the American dog tick and Brown dog tick are the types of ticks responsible for spreading the disease.

Louisville Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Just last week WYMT News reported a case of a boy in Harlan County who became ill with Rocky Mountain spotted fever after his mother pulled two ticks off of him just days before. The boy received antibiotic treatment and is now on the mend, as with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, early treatment is important.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Symptoms

Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be deadly. According to the CDC fatality rates have been steadily falling from 28% in 1944 to approximately .5% today. Getting early treatment can be tricky with tick-borne diseases, as ticks are tiny, so if you didn’t know you were bitten, you might never suspect Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Know the symptoms below, and if you were recently spending time outdoors you would need to see your doctor immediately:

• fever
• rash (205 days after fever, does not occur in all cases)
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• muscle pain
• lack of appetite
• pink eye

With tick populations growing each and every year, it is important to practice tick safety after spending time outdoors. If you should become ill after a tick bite, see your doctor right away. To avoid tick bites and lower your risk for tick-borne diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, sign up for the best Louisville tick control services available from Mosquito Squad of Louisville. Call now!