Cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever on the Rise

According to new research, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is becoming more common. The potentially deadly disease is the most severe and most frequently reported rickettsial illness in the United States. Over the last five years, the incidence of the disease has more than tripled. Not only is it becoming more common but it is beginning to be reported in areas that it has never before been reported. Why is this and what can be done?

Rocky Mountain spotted fever was fist recognized in the late 1800s. Its name can be considered somewhat of a misnomer because it occurs in areas other than the Rocky Mountain states. In fact, it is usually more common in other areas. The disease is cased by the Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria which is spread by the bite of a tick. More specifically, the dog tick or rocky Mountain wood tick. Until the 1940s, the disease killed nearly one-third of its victims. Of those who survived, one-fifth of adults and one-third of children required hospitalization. After the advent of antibiotics, the death rate has dramatically declined. However, the disease is still quite serious. The disease occurs most frequently between the months of April and September, when tick levels are at their highest. Signs and symptoms begin to appear one to fourteen days following the tick bite. Initial symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and fatigue. Within ten days of the appearance of the initial symptoms, the victim develops a characteristic rash. The rash looks like small red spots that begin on the wrists, ankles, palms, and soles. The rash then begins to spread, sparing only the face. If Rocky Mountain spotted fever is not diagnosed and treated in time, there can be serious consequences. These include pneumonia, kidney failure, liver failure, respiratory distress, clotting disorders, heart problems, and even death.

Researchers reviewed data collected from the National Electronic Telecommunications System for Surveillance. The data was collected from 2001 to 2005 and included more than six-thousand cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Researchers found that the number of cases nearly tripled during the five years the data was collected: from 695 cases in 2001 to 1,936 cases in 2005. Interestingly, there was a greater incidence of the disease in suburban areas than there was in rural areas. The largest increase in reporting came from the South Atlantic states including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and more. Five states did not have a single case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. These include Alaska, California, Washington, Maine, and Hawaii.

Experts are not sure why there is an increase in reports of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Presumably, it is because people are coming into contact with tick-infested areas more often. However, this cannot be confirmed. Obviously more research is needed. In the meantime, experts are urging people to become aware of the disease and how it can be prevented. The only way Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be prevented is through the avoidance of tick bites. The best precaution is to avoid tick-infested areas. Also, check your pets for ticks regularly. If you find one, remove it. Also, make sure to treat your animals regularly to aid in tick prevention. If you or your family must enter tick-infested areas, following these tips to avoid tick bites:

- Wear light-colored clothing. This makes the ticks more visible if they do get on you.

- Wear long-sleeve shirts and pants. Also, make sure to tuck your pants inside your socks. This minimizes the area ticks can make contact with your skin and reduces that chance that a tick will get inside clothing.

- Use an insect repellent that works against ticks.

- After visiting a tick-infested area, check your body as well as your family's for ticks. Make sure to look in tick "hiding spots" such as behind the ears, on the scalp, under the arms, and in the genital area.

- If you do find a tick, remove it. If it has already attached to the skin, call the doctor first. More than likely, he/she will want you to remove it, but he/she will also be able to instruct you on the proper way to remove the tick. You may also be advised to save the tick for identification. Follow all doctor orders.

Source

Infectious Diseases Society of America