Kaiser Health News reported Colorado's fourth case of trench fever this year on Thursday, July 16. Trench fever is a rare condition transmitted by body lice that afflicted soldiers during World War I.
Although Colorado only had four cases this year, Dr. Michelle Barron, the medical director of infection prevention and control at the UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital believes that two already calls for an outbreak.
Not encountering the disease for almost 20 years of her practice, she warns local physicians to be on the lookout for signs of the disease. Trench fever is characterized by relapsing fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, bone pain, particularly in the shins, and malaise. Some infected individuals can also develop skin lesions or potentially fatal infection of their heart valves.
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Homelessness Trend is on the Rise
Although it was common during World War I, nowadays, the only time that you may see trench fever is during occasional outbreaks where human body lice are common. The disease is usually seen among impoverished or homeless communities.
Nonetheless, trench fever is rarely fatal. However, its appearance in Denver, Colorado, is a great concern. Medical experts believe that it could be a sign that body lice and the conditions that cultivate the parasite like homelessness and non-hygienic settings are growing.
On a CBS article in December 2019, the news mentioned that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported its third consecutive uptick in its homelessness projection for the country.
For three consecutive years, the homeless community in America had grown. Officials fear that the trend will continue this year as well. Nevertheless, it is very unlikely that the COVID-19 pandemic will be any good for the homelessness circumstance. If anything else, it could uncover the problem as something that desperately needs to be addressed.
Undeniably, disregarding the problem would only make it worse. Health officials believe that 2020 continues to expose a number of problems in the society that haven't been addressed for many years, including those in the trenches.
Where Does Trench Fever Come From?
Trench fever is caused by the bacteria Bartonella quintana. Its name comes from the trenches where it was first discovered during World War I.
According to experts, once the bacteria enters the human body louse's gut, it will stay there for a lifetime. Anytime the infected louse defecates, its dander could contain the bacteria. What's worse is that lice tend to poop wherever they happen to be. This includes people's clothes and body parts.
Additionally, bacteria in lice poop can also survive for up to a year. After the bacteria gets inside a person's body, symptoms may not be apparent for about 15 to 25 days. After the incubation period, that's when infected individuals might experience symptoms.
The European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) says other common symptoms include back pain, leg pain, severe headaches, and a fleeting rash. Moreover, the symptoms may last for about five days.
Treatment for trench fever include antibiotics such as doxycycline. Sometimes, physicians also use macrolides to help. Antibiotics are usually taken for about four to six weeks.
