As summer activities pull individuals outdoors, precautions are important to reduce the risk of a number of illnesses caused by tick bites.
“Oklahoma is pretty well-known for tick infestation,” David Hadley, Unity North medical director, said. “Oklahoma is one of the top-three states for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.”
“They are often found in wooded areas and are more common in Eastern Oklahoma, usually from spring through summer, in May, June and July,” he said.
Hadley said Lyme disease and Tularemia are among the diseases carried by some ticks in Oklahoma.
“Across the board, only about 1 percent of the ticks found in Oklahoma are likely to cause diseases,” Hadley said. “The chance of being exposed to ticks in Oklahoma is very high, but the chance of illness is low.”
Of those who do become infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever or other illnesses contracted from tick bites, Hadley said antibiotics are usually very effective in treating the sickness. However, those who do not receive treatment may not heal on their own.
“Untreated, the mortality rate of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be 20 percent of all those diagnosed,” Hadley said.
The only tick in Oklahoma known to carry Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is the American dog tick, he said.
As with most illnesses, prevention is key to avoiding sickness from tick bites, Hadley said.
“It’s best to remember that only about 1 percent carry these diseases and simply having one crawling on you doesn’t infect you,” he said. “And because it typically takes three to four hours for a tick to transmit the disease, the chances are that if you remove it quickly, you will not be infested.”
Hadley said some ways to avoid infestation are by staying on trails, avoiding tall, grassy areas and tucking pant legs into boots or socks.
In addition, he suggested using caution when removing or disposing of any tick.
“Ticks carry several bacteria on their bodies that can cause humans to become ill, so hand washing is important when handling a tick,” he said. “And if possible, ticks should be disposed of through flushing.”
Another way to prevent tick bites, Hadley said, is to check every two to three hours for any ticks and remove them quickly using tweezers or gloves.
When removing the tick, caution should be used as not to rupture the tick’s shell, as this too could cause bacterial infection.
“If a tick is removed, it should be saved whether dead or alive in case symp toms develop, usually three to 14 days,” Hadley said.
As for Lyme disease, symptoms might not appear for up to two months, according to the Oklahoma Poison Control Center’s Web site, www.oklahomapoison.org.
Signs of illness from tick bites appear flu-like and include fever, muscle pain, extreme fatigue, headache, chills, joint pain, swollen glands or rash and develop within three days to two months after a tick bite.
If symptoms develop, contact a physician.
For more information, visit the Oklahoma Poison Control Center’s Web site.
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Johnna Ray may be reached at 214-3934.
SHAWNEE, Okla. —
