High Fever and Body Aches May Not Be a Simple Autumn Cold... Beware of 'Tick-Borne Diseases' After Grave Visits and Mowing

Ilsanseo-gu Public Health Center in Goyang Urges Prevention of Scrub Typhus and SFTS
High Fever, Body Aches, Digestive Symptoms... Do Not Mistake Them for a "Seasonal Cold"
Beware of Tick-Borne Diseases After Grave Visits or Mowing
"Monitor Your Health for Two Weeks"

The Ilsanseo-gu Public Health Center in Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Donghwan) has urged citizens who have participated in outdoor activities such as visiting ancestral graves, mowing grass, or farming during the Chuseok holiday to monitor their symptoms and respond promptly for two weeks after returning home.

'Guidelines for Symptom Monitoring and Prompt Response for Two Weeks After Returning Home.' Provided by Goyang City Animal Shelter

During the autumn season (September to November), there is a concentrated occurrence of scrub typhus and Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS). In particular, SFTS is known as a highly fatal infectious disease, as there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment available.

In autumn, the risk of tick exposure increases significantly due to the higher frequency of activities such as mowing grass and visiting graves, which involve working in grass or bushes.

Scrub typhus is transmitted through larval mites, while SFTS is spread by hard ticks. According to recent reports, the fatality rate of SFTS is as high as 18.5%, making early diagnosis and treatment critically important due to the severe risk involved.

It is essential for citizens to follow these guidelines: First, when engaging in outdoor activities, wear long sleeves and long pants, along with a hat and gloves, and ensure that ankles and wrists are tightly sealed to block tick access. Second, after returning home, always take a shower, wash the clothes you wore, dry them at a high temperature, and carefully check your entire body, including the scalp, behind the ears, behind the knees, and under the arms. Third, if you experience suspicious symptoms such as fever or rash, do not delay visiting a medical facility. Inform the medical staff of your recent outdoor activities, and if necessary, take a photo of the bite area to show to healthcare professionals.

It is also important to note that symptoms of tick-borne diseases in autumn do not appear immediately after being bitten.

Scrub typhus and SFTS typically have an incubation period of about 10 days, after which symptoms such as high fever, body aches, vomiting, and diarrhea may appear. Therefore, citizens who have participated in mowing or grave visits should monitor themselves for at least two weeks, even if they do not exhibit symptoms.

In the early stages, these illnesses can resemble a common cold and may be easily overlooked. However, if treatment is delayed, the condition can worsen significantly, making self-monitoring for a certain period after outdoor activities essential.

The post-holiday two-week checklist includes: a high fever around 38°C lasting for more than 1-2 days; severe body aches, muscle pain, headache, or digestive symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea; and the appearance of scabs (eschar) or red spots that may indicate insect bites.

If any of these symptoms appear in elderly individuals or those with chronic conditions (such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease), they should not be taken lightly. It is important to seek medical attention at a (general) hospital with an infectious disease department.

An official from the public health center stated, "Many cases of fever and body aches that appear after the holidays are mistaken for a simple cold, which leads to delayed diagnosis. In particular, if elderly family members have participated in grave visits or mowing, please monitor them closely for two weeks and visit a medical facility immediately if any abnormalities appear."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.