Colorado Tick Fever Treatment And Prevention

Colorado tick fever (CTF) is a viral infection individuals contract after being bitten by an infected tick. Infection usually occurs in the western United States and western Canada, particularly within four to ten thousand feet above sea level. The majority of infections occur during months when ticks are active. While there aren't vaccines to prevent Colorado tick fever or medications developed to treat it, the best prevention method is reducing the risk of bites. Wear long sleeves when you go out, use insect spray, avoid areas with tall grass, and thoroughly check yourself for ticks after you spend time outdoors. Learn more about how to prevent and treat Colorado tick fever now.

Intravenous Fluids

Right now, there are no medications to treat Colorado tick fever. Like many other viruses, it just needs to run its course through the body. However, if a person is experiencing severe illness due to Colorado tick fever, they should be hospitalized. The treatment tends to include medications that reduce fever and pain, along with intravenous fluids. Most commonly, symptoms present with a fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, and chills. Sometimes, it also presents with a skin rash, pain in the abdomen, vomiting, or a sore throat. There are rare cases in which more serious illnesses develop and affect an individual's central nervous system. Symptoms of this include confusion and a stiff neck. When severe illness develops, it's important to seek emergency medical treatment as soon as possible. It's important to note, however, that it's rare for Colorado tick fever to cause life-threatening sickness or death.

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No Donating Blood Or Bone Marrow

Not donating blood or bone marrow is a preventative strategy regarding Colorado tick fever. In general, individuals with viruses or health concerns should not donate blood, as this can pass the infection onto others. Even after the Colorado tick fever infection clears up, the individual in question should still avoid donating bone marrow or blood for at least six months. It's possible for the virus to stay within the red blood cells even after symptoms have subsided, which means it can be passed to others through a bone marrow transplant or blood transfusion. As a general rule, it's better to avoid donating blood if you have health concerns, rather than risking making another person sicker. If you think you may have had Colorado tick fever within the last six months, but aren't sure, you still shouldn't donate blood just yet.

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