SCOUTER Feature

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
ALWAYS consult your medical physician
for diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition.

by MaryAnn Gardner

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne illness which occurs in most of the United States. Most cases are mild and disappear within two weeks. However, 20% of those who remain untreated die. Treatment with antibiotics when diagnosed quickly is quite effective. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is transmitted to humans through tick bites.   Carriers are the brown dog tick (eastern USA), Rocky Mountain wood tick(western USA), and the lone star tick(southern USA) . Symptoms begin three to 10 days after the bite.  Kidshealth.org provides a look at the rash which accompanies RMSF.  This rash is sometimes mistaken for measles, but does not appear on the face. Quick treatment is the key to successful treatment. As it is delayed, the death rate from this disease rises.

Victims are often campers, dog owners, and people who spend a great deal of time outside. There are approximately 1600 cases per year. Most occur in the Spring or Summer months.

The onhealth website gives the following steps you can take to prevent contracting the disease:

If you are bitten by a tick, ALWAYS save it so correct identification and testing can be done. 

BUDDY TAG IT- In Scouting we have two very useful and readily available tools for keeping up with tick bites. After removing a tick, find a 35mm plastic film cannister and then use a Buddy Tag to mark where and when and from whom the tick was removed. Any Summer Camp Health Lodge should have both of these items, and they should become a part of your troop First Aid Kit.

SCOUTER cautions our visitors that we are NOT medical experts. We cannot and do not verify that information available on the Internet is correct. These links and their data should be used for information ONLY. ALWAYS consult your medical physician for diagnosis and treatment.

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