that spans east of the Rocky Mountains and limited areas along the west coast. The American dog tick, the primary vector of RMSF, can be found in a large portion of the U.S. They include Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick). Two species of the Dermacentor genus of ticks are most responsible for the transmission of RMSF in the United States. in 2014) Tick Talk on the Dermacentor genus Source: CDC – Cases Reported to CDC of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (U.S. With the ability for the infection to turn severe or deadly without proper diagnosis and treatment, personal preventative measures and integrated tick management (ITM) programs should be executed in endemic areas to help reduce this significant public health concern. Currently, the American dog tick is the main vector to transmit Rickettsia rickettsii in the U.S. are from North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports over 60% of RMSF cases within the U.S. There are approximately 2,000 cases of RMSF reported each year in the United States. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and the United States Properly educating the public on the tick vector species and taking preventive measures should be a goal in communities where RMSF cases have been reported. If a petechial rash surfaces, where spots appear red to purple, this is a sign that the disease is progressing to severe. The delay of antibiotics, while waiting on a lab report or an initial test providing a negative presence of Rickettsia rickettsii, could result in a severe case that may lead to greater health concerns with the heart, lungs, or brain. Health care providers are urged to move forward with antibiotics when RMSF symptoms are present, and/or a significant suspicion of an RMSF infection exists. If not diagnosed and treated within the first few days after the symptoms begin, RMSF can become a severe and sometimes fatal illness. Doxycycline is the most commonly prescribed antibiotic for individuals of all ages.Įarly Detection of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is Key.When treated early with antibiotics, most cases see a full recovery.Treatment of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Infection As the rash spreads, it can continue to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet as well as move up the arms and legs and towards the core of the body. The rash typically begins as little, non-itchy, pink to red spots or blotches that start on the wrists and ankles. The distinctive RMSF rash may develop several days after the onset of a fever, with some patients (approximately 10%) never developing a rash.Traditionally RMSF symptoms include fever (103° – 105☏), chills, headache, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, and muscle pain.RMSF symptoms often develop within the first few days of a tick bite however, some individuals may not experience symptoms for up to two weeks.April through early September, when ticks are most active, is when more individuals become infected, with medical professionals seeing the greatest number of RMSF cases in June and July. however cases are reported from Canada, Central and South America, as well as almost all 50 states. It is most common in the south Atlantic and south central regions of the U.S. The disease was first described in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States in the late 1800s. Exposure could occur during tick removal from a human or pet. The infection is usually the result of a tick bite however, infection may also occur when an individual’s skin is exposed to an infected tick’s blood or feces. Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a vector-borne disease that is transmitted through an infected tick carrying the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. What is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and How Does it Spread?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |