- Spotted fever symptoms
- How Spotted Fever Transmits
- Treatment for spotted fever
- Spotted fever prevention
Brazilian spotted fever, also known as tick fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and petenquial fever transmitted by the star tick, is an infection caused by the Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria after a tick bite.
Generally, spotted fever is more common during the months of June to October, as it is when the ticks are most active, being necessary to be in contact with the tick between 6 to 10 hours.
Spotted fever is curable, but its treatment should be started with antibiotics after the first symptoms appear to avoid serious complications, such as brain inflammation, paralysis, respiratory failure or kidney failure, which can endanger the patient's life.
Spotted fever symptoms
The main symptoms of spotted fever include:
- Fever above 39ºC and chills; Severe headache; Conjunctivitis; Nausea and vomiting; Diarrhea and abdominal pain; Constant muscle pain; Insomnia and difficulty in resting; Swelling and redness in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; Gangrene in the fingers and ears; Paralysis of the limbs that starts in the legs and goes up to the lungs causing respiratory arrest.
In addition, after the development of fever it is common to develop red spots on the wrists and ankles, which do not itch, but which may increase towards the palms, arms or soles of the feet.
The symptoms of spotted fever can be difficult to identify and, therefore, whenever there is a suspicion of developing the disease, it is recommended to go to the emergency room to have blood tests and confirm the infection, immediately starting treatment with antibiotics.
The diagnosis can be made with tests such as blood count, which shows anemia, thrombocytopenia and reduced platelet count. In addition, examination of the enzymes CK, LDH, ALT and AST are also indicated.
How Spotted Fever Transmits
Transmission occurs through the bite of a star tick contaminated with the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii . When biting and feeding on the blood, the tick transmits the bacteria through its saliva. But it is necessary a contact between 6 to 10 hours for this to happen, however the bite of the larvae of this tick can also transmit the disease and it is not possible to identify the location of its bite, because it does not cause pain, although it is sufficient for the transmission of the bacterium.
In Brazil, most cases occur in the southeastern region and the animals that are usually hosts for this type of tick are the capybara and the horse.
When the skin crosses the barrier, the bacteria reaches the brain, lungs, heart, liver, spleen, pancreas and digestive tract, so it is important to know how to identify and treat this disease as soon as possible to avoid further complications and even death.
The incubation period varies from 2 days to 2 weeks until the first symptoms appear.
Treatment for spotted fever
The treatment for spotted fever should be guided by a general practitioner and started up to 5 days after the onset of symptoms, usually with antibiotics such as chloramphenicol or tetracyclines, to avoid serious complications.
Lack of treatment can affect the central nervous system and cause encephalitis, mental confusion, delusions, seizures and coma. In this case, the bacteria can be identified in the CSF test, although the result is not always positive. The kidneys can be affected with kidney failure, with swelling throughout the body. When the lungs are affected, there may be pneumonia and decreased breathing, requiring the use of oxygen.
Spotted fever prevention
The prevention of spotted fever can be done as follows:
- Wear pants, long-sleeved shirts and shoes, especially when it is necessary to be in places with tall grass; Use insect repellents, renewing every 2 hours or as needed; Clean the bushes and keep the garden leafless on the lawn; Check all the days the presence of ticks on the body or in domestic animals; keep domestic animals, such as dogs and cats, disinfected against fleas and ticks.
If a tick is identified on the skin, it is recommended to go to the emergency room or a health center to remove it properly and avoid the appearance of spotted fever, for example.
