Rickettsia

With the exception of epidemic typhus, no vaccine exists to prevent rickettsial infection. Prevention of these diseases should focus on the elimination of insect carriers with insecticides and wearing heavy clothing when going into areas in which rickettsial carriers dwell. For instance, appropriate clothing for a forest expedition should include boots, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants. Treating the skin with insect repellents is also recommended to prevent insect bites.

It is important to know how to remove a tick if one is found on the skin. It takes several hours from the time a rickettsia-infected tick attaches to the skin for the rickettsia to be transmitted to the human bloodstream, so removing a tick promptly is crucial. When removing a tick, be careful not to crush it, as crushing may release rickettsia that can contaminate the hands and fingers. Use tweezers to grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible, and then pull slowly away from the skin. Make sure the mouthparts are removed from the skin (sometimes the body of a tick will separate from the head as it is being pulled). Do not try to remove a tick with gasoline or try to burn a tick off the skin with a match. After the tick is removed, wash your hands immediately. If you cannot remove the tick yourself, seek medical help.