Although the name may be unfamiliar, SFTS is a disease that is more dangerous and more frequently infected than you might think. This disease, known as Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome, has been causing over 200 cases per year since the first reported death in May 2013. As the weather warms up and outdoor activities increase, everyone, regardless of age or gender, should be cautious of it.
What is an SFTS infection?
As the weather gets warmer, tick activity also significantly increases. If abnormal symptoms appear after activities like walking or camping, you can suspect Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS). SFTS appears with symptoms like high fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea after being bitten by a tick carrying the SFTS virus between April and November. The fatality rate is about 18%.
Does every tick bite result in an infection?
Ticks associated with SFTS infections are primarily of the Ixodidae class. They are most active from April when the weather gets warmer, peaking in September. Infections in humans mainly occur from April to November, and only a minor portion of ixodidae are infected with the SFTS virus, meaning not all tick bites result in SFTS infections.
Symptoms
Within 4 to 15 days after being bitten by a tick, symptoms such as a fever above 100.4°F, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, other digestive symptoms, hematuria, and melena may appear. As this is a highly fatal infectious disease, when you experience symptoms, you need to visit a medical institution immediately, inform them of any outdoor activities or tick bites, and receive treatment.
Where are ticks commonly found?
Ticks are widely distributed in all environments where wild animals inhabit, not just in places with grass. Ticks stay in areas with dense grass and attach themselves to passing humans or animals to suck their blood. Most people get bitten by ticks and become infected while doing outdoor activities such as farm work, hiking, walking, or paying respects at gravesites.
Is there a cure?
SFTS is a viral disease. It is treated symptomatically like a cold, and there is still no precise treatment, so the best course of action is to be careful not to get bitten by ticks. During treatment, the immune system may weaken due to the drop in white blood cells or platelets, so older people should be cautious.
What to do when you get bitten by a tick?
When ticks attach to the skin of humans or animals, they stay firmly attached and suck blood for a long time. If you try to remove them forcefully with your hand, part of the tick may remain in the skin, so it is better to go to a hospital. However, if you can’t go to a hospital, use tweezers to grab the tick’s head under the skin, remove it vertically, and disinfect it.
What to be careful of when going outdoors
When going to places with grass or bushes, wear long sleeves, long pants, and shoes that completely cover your legs to minimize skin exposure. It is best to always brush off your clothes and take a bath or shower after outdoor activities. Using insect repellent during outdoor activities can be helpful.
Wash the dog after taking a walk
Caution is needed for dogs that carry ticks from frequent walks. Various types of ticks parasitize on the skin and fur of dogs, and scabies can rarely transfer to human skin. Scabies are ticks that live by sucking the blood of animals and breed regardless of the season. After walking the dog, brush the fur with a dense comb and bathe it. If something is attached between the toes or around the eyes, wipe them clean.
Does every tick bite result in a disease?
Not all ticks carry pathogens. If a tick without a pathogen bites you, it ends with itchiness or a minor wound. Even if you are bitten by a tick with a pathogen, the symptoms do not appear immediately. If you have symptoms such as high fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or cough after outdoor activities, it is better to go to the hospital. When a tick bites you, note that visiting nearby hospitals to remove it rather than do it yourself is essential.
Be careful of house dust mites, too!
In addition to blood-sucking ticks, we should be aware of house dust mites that cause atopic dermatitis and rhinitis. Ticks, which grow well at a temperature of 77°F and a humidity of around 85%, are particularly prevalent during the rainy season. House dust mites can occur anywhere, anytime, where people live, as they live by eating dandruff and dead skin cells that fall from people. It is good to wash and sun-dry your bedding and sofa frequently.
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