Tick Bite Fever

[BRICKBURN]

It was in a typical spray bottle and was obviously a personal mix of some light yellowish colored liquid.

As I watched my clothing crawling and my trackers moving even more, I could have cared less what was in that bottle and certainly did not ask for a WHMIS label.

 

[gillettehunter]

I got TBF my 2nd trip to Africa. Thanks to this forum I knew what it was. Had arrived home and then off to the biggest wholesale jewelry buying show in the USA in Vegas. I took a cab to the hospital and told the doc what I had. He checked the symptoms and got me on the doxycyclene. Sent in some med students because they were unlikely to see it again..... Now I use pemethericin on my clothes before I go. Prevention is easier than the cure!!! Bruce

 

[Mike B]

Quick question for those that have treated clothes before they go. Do you just give them a spray a day or two before you pack them up and then pack and go? Do you spray then wash then pack? I assume just outerwear (pants, boots, shirt) but not socks, etc? Just wondering what "best practice" is.

 

[billc]

I just spray my boots, pants , shirts and jacket with permethrin. Has worked great so far and have even watched ticks jump right off my pants one turkey season.

 

[JimP]

Spray it a couple of days before you pack to leave. It needs to dry. I did all of my outer clothes including my socks. I should of also done my boots but if they are leather I am not sure how well it will stay on them, not to mention if you are walking through wet grass.

 

[lcq]

Spray it a couple of days before you pack to leave. It needs to dry. I did all of my outer clothes including my socks. I should of also done my boots but if they are leather I am not sure how well it will stay on them, not to mention if you are walking through wet grass.

x2 that is the way to do it

 

[MMAL]

Another question and thank you for all the help gentlemen. What % are you trying to get to when Diluting? I see most of the available products are at 10% permethrin, my local store sells it at 38.5%. A post before this mentions 20:1 dilution which is .5% permethrin, is that the about right?

 

[Mike B]

There are typically directions for dilution for certain applications (direct to animals, on premise, etc). I was planning to dilute it down to pig direct application or something similar since the body weights are closer (small pig vs horse vs chicken). I'll double check it later and see if it says what % it is or just gives the ratio's. I figure that would give the strongest solution that would be pretty safe to come in contact with for an extended period.

 

[JimP]

The bottle that I purchased from WalMart that is ready to go only has 0.5% Permethrin in a 12oz spray bottle.

So that equals out to .5/100 and I had no problems with bugs.

 

[Mike B]

I think the above advice is (.5%) sound, here are a couple pages from the stuff I have for mixing. Direct for dogs and swine and surface mixing. It also says don't spray it on your skin and if it gets on your clothes go wash them.

 

[lcq]

Another question and thank you for all the help gentlemen. What % are you trying to get to when Diluting? I see most of the available products are at 10% permethrin, my local store sells it at 38.5%. A post before this mentions 20:1 dilution which is .5% permethrin, is that the about right?

that is what I have been doing. Old retired chemistry type

 

[gillettehunter]

This thread had some good info on tick prevention:
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/tick-expectations.7644/#post-51906
The post by Bert the turtle about soaking your clothes has made a difference for me. Bruce

 

[BRICKBURN]

...............

But you have to wait 5 days before you can ship yourself for slaughter.

 

[brushmore]

My youngest son came back with tick bite fever but is doing better now thanks to the antibiotics. The look on the nurse practitioner's face here in the small Midwestern town we live in was priceless when we explained that we had just come back from Africa and we thought he had tick bite fever.

 

[siml]

@BRICKBURN , you spot on, the ticks are terrible this year. 3 of my dogs have had "tick bite fever", I am dipping them weekly.

 

[broncolcj]

Funny how it effects some folks differently. Couple years ago my brother got bit on his shin and had fever before we got home. Where as I've been bitten dozens of times in the same area and never fallen ill

 

[Hank2211]

I too, along with some others, have come down with this while in Africa - and had a relapse once home. No fun at all, but not the end of the world either. Getting the shakes gives the animals a better chance!

I would strongly suggest - apart from all of the prevention possibilities discussed above - you bring a cure with you, particularly if you are hunting the Eastern Cape or anywhere else where ticks are endemic. Pepper ticks, especially, are very hard to see and control. If you're up for it, apparently a bath in a mixture of Dettol and water is just the thing. Get the Dettol in South Africa. A lot cheaper.

The cure is easy - ask your doctor for a 10 day course of both doxycycline and levofloxacin (both antibiotics). Take 'em both if needed (you will know if they are needed!). And get an oral antihistamine. You can develop a nasty infection just from the scratching these things will induce, along with a lot of lost sleep.

 

[cls]

The cure is easy - ask your doctor for a 10 day course of both doxycycline and levofloxacin (both antibiotics). Take 'em both if needed (you will know if they are needed!). And get an oral antihistamine. You can develop a nasty infection just from the scratching these things will induce, along with a lot of lost sleep.

+1
Ever since my first bout with the fever I have had my Dr. prescribe doxycycline along with some itch cream before I leave doesn't cost much and is better to have and not need than to need and not have.