For Long Island residents, ticks are a part of life. Often found in wooded areas and tall grass, ticks present more than just a nuisance to you and your family, but potentially life-threatening illnesses. There are several tick-borne illnesses, the most common one being Lyme disease.
Lyme disease causes fever, headache, and fatigue. If it goes untreated for too long, Lyme disease can cause infection to spread into the joints, nervous system, or even the heart. Approximately 35,000 people in the United States contract Lyme disease annually, averaging nearly 100 cases daily. And that’s only one of the tick-borne illnesses. Another potentially deadly tick-borne illness of note is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
So what is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?
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How Long Does A Tick Have To Be On You To Get Infected?
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Where Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Commonly Found?
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Is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Deadly?
A tick must be attached to a human for more than 20 hours to transfer a disease like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. While it may sound unlikely, ticks are small enough to easily be missed if not carefully looked for after being in a situation where ticks could be a problem.
If you happened to be in the woods or by tall grass and weren’t checking for ticks, for example, you may not even correlate a fever with being related to a tick bite. In the case of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a rash begins to form 2-4 days after the fever starts. If you find yourself in a situation where you have a fever and then develop a rash, and you may have had even a slight chance of encountering a tick before all that, it’s worth seeing a doctor. Considering that this disease can be deadly, you may be saving your life.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be found all over the country, but it’s most common in several southern states like North Carolina and Kentucky. That said, New York has a higher infection rate than many other states, and it’s six times as high just across state lines in New Jersey.
Unfortunately, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be deadly if not treated early. To properly treat the disease, you’ll need an antibiotic as soon as possible. Doxycycline is the recommended antibiotic for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever by the CDC, but you’ll need to consult your doctor to get a prescription if necessary.
Call East Long Island’s Most Trusted Name In Tick-Borne Illness Prevention
Tick-borne illnesses like Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever are severe and can affect you and your family for the rest of your lives. If you reside on eastern Long Island and need trusted, proven tick control treatments that are safe for your family and pets, you’ve come to the right place. We have three East End locations to serve your needs best so in and around Southampton, call (631) 287-9700. For those in and around East Hampton, call (631) 324-9700. If you live near Southold, call (631) 765-9700. Or you can always send us a message through our website and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
