Doug Robinson
UKC Forum Member
Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Warsaw, New York
Posts: 4242 |
Caused by Ticks in People and Dogs
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Overview
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is an infectious disease caused by bacteria carried by ticks.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually develop about 2 to 14 days after the tick bite. They may include:
Chills
Fever
Severe headache
Muscle pain
Mental confusion
Rash -- usually starts a few days after the fever; first appears on wrists and ankles, then spreads to most of the body; some people do not get a rash
Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:
Abnormal sensitivity to light
Diarrhea
Excessive thirst
Hallucinations
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Treatment
Treatment involves careful removal of the tick from the skin and antibiotics to eliminate the infection. Doxycycline or tetracycline are frequently used. Chloramphenicol may be used in pregnant women.
Note: Tetracycline and doxycycline pills are usually not prescribed for children until after all the permanent teeth have come in. These medicines can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming. For this disease, it may be used for short periods of time when it is felt that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Causes
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is caused by Rickettsia rickettsii (R. Rickettsii), which is carried by ticks. The bacteria spreads to humans through a tick bite.
In the western United States, the bacteria is carried by the wood tick, and in the eastern U.S. it is carried by the dog tick. However, other ticks spread the infection in the southern U.S. and in Central and South America.
Contrary to the name "Rocky Mountain," most recent cases have been reported in the eastern United States, including North and South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Most cases occur in the spring and summer with about 1,000 cases reported per year. Most of the reported cases have been in children.
Risk factors include recent hiking or exposure to ticks in an area where the disease is known to occur.
Tests & diagnosis
Tests that may be done include:
Antibody titer by complement fixation or immunofluorescence
Kidney function tests
Platelet count
Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
Prothrombin time (PT)
Red blood cell count
Skin biopsy taken from the rash to check for R. rickettsii
Urinalysis to check for blood in the urine and protein in the urine
Prognosis
Treatment usually cures the infection. Complications are rare but can include paralysis, hearing loss, nerve damage, and, rarely, death.
Prevention
When walking or hiking in tick-infested areas, tuck long pants into socks to protect the legs, and wear shoes and long-sleeved shirts. Ticks will show up on white or light colors better than dark colors, making them easier to remove from clothing.
Remove ticks immediately by using a tweezers, pulling carefully and steadily. Insect repellent may be helpful. Because less than 1% of ticks carry this infection, antibiotics are not usually given after a tick bite if there is no evidence of disease.
Note:
People get this disease when they are bitten by a tick that is carrying the bacterium R. rickettsia. Because ticks on dogs can be infected with R. rickettsii, dogs and people can get Rocky Mountain spotted fever from the same ticks. These ticks can also bite other animals and pass Rocky Mountain spotted fever to them. When you remove ticks from any animal, the crushed tick or its parts can also pass this disease through any cuts or scrapes on your skin.
__________________
Doug Robinson
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Last edited by Doug Robinson on 10-02-2009 at 05:34 PM
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10-02-2009 02:42 PM
BARRY GREEN 
