Spotted fever is actually several diseases that are caused by one bacterium transmitted by ticks. A very high fever, up to 40 degrees C, muscle pain, visible changes on the skin - these are the basic symptoms of spotted fever. How is spotted fever treated?
Spotted feverhas a fairly wide geographic scope - it can occur in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Tasmania and South America, mainly in Brazil. It is carried by various species of ticks, infected with the so-called bacteria. rickettsials ( Rickettsia ). They are intracellular parasites found on other organisms. In the case of spotted fever, a person is infected with ticks, most often during bites and sucking blood, sometimes also as a result of contamination of the damaged skin with the feces of this arachnid containing bacteria. Due to its place of occurrence, spotted fever is known under various names:
- Mediterranean spotted fever, mainly found in southern Europe
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the United States and Canada
- oriental spotted fever in asia
- spotted fever in Africa, caused by Rickettsia africae
- Sao Paulo fever in Brazil
- Typhoid fever in Australia and spotted fever
- in Tasmania
Spotted fever: symptoms
Spotted fever, no matter where it occurs, has characteristic symptoms. First of all, the infection is accompanied by high fever, even up to 40 degrees C, and visible changes on the skin, in the form of a macular or lumpy rash, often with a hemorrhagic reaction.
The incubation period of the disease is several days to even two weeks, with each type of spotted fever may have additional symptoms. For example, in the case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, muscle and headaches, chills, and increased sweating may also occur. On the other hand, with Mediterranean spotted fever, a black scab appears at the site of the tick bite, sometimes nausea and vomiting may occur, and the lymph nodes become enlarged. Almost all types of spotted fever are also associated with malaise, loss of appetite and appetite.
Spotted fever:diagnosis and treatment
Spotted fever is quite easy to diagnose once you have a characteristic skin rash. It mainly appears on the legs, arms, abdomen and back. The disease can be diagnosed earlier on the basis of a medical history, especially if the patient knows that he has been bitten by a tick.
The surest diagnostic method is to perform a blood test for bacteria and antibodies produced by the body.
Treatment should be started as soon as possible to prevent possible complications such as renal failure, liver failure or heart failure. This risk exists especially in the case of Mediterranean spotted fever, which, if left untreated, can even lead to death in extreme cases.
Complications are especially vulnerable to those who have reduced immunity, such as the elderly or those suffering from chronic diseases. Antibiotic therapy lasts ten, sometimes even 14 days, and the patient is also given antipyretic and anti-inflammatory drugs so as not to further weaken the body.
Spotted fever: prevention
The easiest way to avoid getting spotted fever is to avoid tick locations that may be infected with rickettsiae. However, it is not always possible, especially since they inhabit areas that are very diverse and rich in vegetation, i.e. forests, meadows, river and lake shores. Therefore, when you go to the places where ticks occur, you should take care of appropriate clothing - you must wear long pants, a blouse or a sweatshirt with long sleeves, a head covering. It is also worth using preparations that repel these arachnids. If, however, we notice a tick on the body, it is necessary to remove it as soon as possible, then there is a chance to avoid infection with the diseases it transmits. After that, you should monitor the body's reaction for several days and consult a doctor if, for example, a rash appears at the site of the bite. Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for spotted fever, so it is important to avoid infection, and even if it does occur, appropriate treatment is started as soon as possible.