Mary D. Nettleman, MD, MS, MACP is the Chair of the Department of Medicine at Michigan State University. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt Medical School, and completed her residency in Internal Medicine and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at Indiana University.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is
caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii.
The bacterium is spread to
humans through the bite of infected ticks, and so the disease is most common in
months where ticks are active, such as summer.
Despite the name, the disease
is not limited to the Rocky Mountains but rather occurs throughout most of the
U.S.
Symptoms of headache,
fever, and fatigue begin about a week after exposure. A
few days later, a rash develops. The rash may be so mild that it is hard to see
or so dramatic that it progresses to gangrene. Other possible symptoms include
confusion, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
Most cases require hospitalization,
and severe cases require intensive care.
The disease is diagnosed by finding
high titers of antibodies in the blood or by seeing the organism under a
microscope in specially stained skin biopsies.
The treatment of choice is the
antibiotic doxycycline (Vibramycin, Oracea, Adoxa, Atridox). Prompt treatment improves survival and reduces
complications.
Most people with RMSF recover completely over a few weeks. In
severe cases, patients may have brain damage or other neurological problems that
persist after treatment.
The risk of RMSF can be reduced by reducing exposure
to ticks. This includes avoiding areas that have large concentrations of ticks,
using insect repellents and wearing protective clothing.
Because the risk of
infection increases with the duration of tick attachment, people should check
themselves for ticks when they return from an outing.
What is Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is
a bacterial infection that is transmitted to humans through the bite of a tick.
Statistics show that rates of disease have been rising steadily over the past
decade. Although most people recover completely, fatalities occur in
approximately 0.5%-5% of cases.
Where do most cases of RMSF occur in the U.S.?
Cases of RMSF have been
reported from most areas of the country, and the disease is not restricted to the
Rocky Mountain region. In fact, Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and
Tennessee account for over 60% of reported cases. In 2008, there were
approximately 2,500 cases reported in the U.S., which is more than twice as many
cases as were reported annually in the 1990s.
Reported incidence of RMSF per million people in 2008; NN=not reported. SOURCE: CDC.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
The word "rash" means an outbreak of red bumps on the body. The way people use this term, "a rash" can refer to many different skin conditions. The most common of these are scaly patches of skin and red, itchy bumps or patches all over the place.
Diarrhea is a change is the frequency and looseness of bowel movements. Cramping, abdominal pain, and the sensation of rectal urgency are all symptoms of diarrhea. Absorbents and anti-motility medications are used to treat diarrhea.
Pink eye, also called conjunctivitis, is redness or irritation of the conjunctivae, the membranes on the inner part of the eyelids and the membranes covering the whites of the eyes. These membranes react to a wide range of bacteria, viruses, allergy-provoking agents, irritants, and toxic agents.
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
Liver disease can be cause by a variety of things including infection (hepatitis), diseases such as gallstones, high cholesterol or triglycerides, blood flow obstruction to the liver, and toxins (medications and chemicals). Symptoms of liver disease depends upon the cause; however, common symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, upper right abdominal pain, and jaundice. Treatment depends upon the cause of the liver disease.
Nausea is an uneasiness of the stomach that often precedes vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are not diseases, but they are symptoms of many conditions. The causes of vomiting differ according to age, and treatment depends upon the cause of nausea and vomiting.
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degrees F. (37 degrees C.), in practice a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C.). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal: rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease- producing organisms.
Fatigue can be described in various ways. Sometimes fatigue is described as feeling a lack of energy and motivation (both mental and physical). The causes of fatigue are generally related to a variety of conditions or diseases for example, anemia, mono, medications, sleep problems, cancer, anxiety, heart disease, drug abuse, and more. Treatment of fatigue is generally directed toward the condition or disease that is causing the fatigue.
Ticks are known transmitters of disease to humans and animals. Tick-borne diseases include Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, tularemia, babesiosis, and Southern tick-associated rash illness. Infected ticks spread disease once they've bitten a host, allowing the pathogens in their saliva and mouth get into the host's skin and blood. Tick bites are typically painless, but the site of the bite may later itch, burn, turn red, and feel painful. Individuals allergic to tick bites may develop a rash, swelling, shortness of breath, numbness, or paralysis. Tick bite treatment involves cleaning and applying antibiotic cream.
Blindness is the state of being sightless. Causes of blindness include macular degeneration, stroke, cataract, glaucoma, infection and trauma. Symptoms and signs may include eye pain, eye discharge, or the cornea or pupil turning white. Treatment of blindness depends upon the cause of the blindness.
Bug bites and stings have been known to transmit insect-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease. Though most reactions to insect bites and stings are mild, some reactions may be life-threatening. Preventing bug bites and stings with insect repellant, wearing the proper protective attire, and not wearing heavily scented perfumes when in grassy, wooded, and brushy areas is key.
Use structural barriers such as window screens and netting.
Avoid wooded, brushy, and grassy areas when possible.
Don't wear heavily scented soaps and perfumes.
Use caution eating outside and drinking; don't leave drinks and garbage cans uncovered.
Don't wear bright colors, which attract bees.
Wear long sleeves and long pants when possible.
Tuck pant legs into socks or shoes.
Wear a hat for extra protection.
Get rid of containers with standing water that give mosquitoes a breeding ground. Examples
include water in flowerpots and outdoor pet dishes.
Use insect repellent if nonchemical methods are ineffective and you spend time in tall grass and woody
areas.
Treat camping gear, clothes, and shoes with permethrin, which repels and
kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other insects. Clothing that is pre-treated with
permethrin is also c...
Infectious Disease RSS
Healthy Living Tips
