Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a severe bacterial illness that is frequent in the United States, although it also occurs in other parts of the American continent. The infecting agent is a bacteria named Rickettsia rickettsii, which is passed to humans by ticks. It may be difficult to diagnose the disease at first stages, and if left untreated it may lead to death.

Causes Of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is spread by the hard ticks which live in long-grass fields and wooden areas. The American dog tick, the wood tick and the lone-star tick are all vehicles of this disease. The bite of these ticks transfers the harmful agent (rickettsia rickettsii) to mammals, and in humans this agent causes the Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Symptoms Of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

The disease often starts with a sudden fever that lasts two or three weeks. Severe headache, muscle pain, chills, lack of appetite and nausea are all symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, although perhaps the most distinctive of them is a characteristic rash, which usually begins on the legs and spreads quickly into the rest of the body. Additionally, people affected by this disease may experience episodes of diarrhea.

Treatment Of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

As Rocky Mountain spotted fever may be lethal, treatment should be started immediately if this disease is suspected; waiting for laboratory confirmation and results may be a huge mistake.

The common treatment for this disease consists on the administration of an adequate antibiotic. If addressed early, fever usually subsides 24 to 72 hours after treatment begins. Treatment must be continued until lab tests show no trace of rickettsia.

Prevention Of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

The best way to prevent Rocky Mountain spotted fever is to avoid the areas where hard ticks are found.

Regular fumigation can help in controlling tick population, and keeping the grass short is strongly recommended. If you must perform a certain activity around wooden areas and places were ticks may be found, taking the necessary clothing precautions (long sleeves, tall socks) and using an effective repellant is recommended.

After outside activities, check your skin for possible presence of ticks. Common places are behind the knees, neck, behind the ears, hair and places where clothes press on the skin.

If any tick is found, remove it immediately with tweezers. Then disinfect the place of the skin where the bite is and wash your hands thoroughly. If you experience any fever or rash within 2 weeks from being bitten by a tick, see your doctor immediately.

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