Since July, a Rocky Mountain spotted fever outbreak has led to at least five cases of illnesses in the US, including three reported deaths.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Outbreak
The five reported Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) cases were noted in Southern California. They were found to involve individuals who traveled to Tecate in the last two weeks. Four of the individuals were below 18 years of age, while three were US residents. All five of them ended up hospitalized, while three ended up dying.
With this, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that starting antibiotic doxycycline treatment should be considered if a patient exhibits RMSF symptoms and has traveled recently to north Mexico. The CDC recommends this rather than waiting for the condition to be confirmed through results.
More specifically, the CDC says that anyone who has gone to northern Mexico and has developed RMSF symptoms within two weeks after returning to the US should receive immediate medical attention.
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What Is RMSF?
RMSF is a bacterial infection transmitted through ticks closely linked to domestic dogs in peri-urban and urban settings. Dogs can also transmit this that the ticks have bitten. The CDC notes that people do not share the condition with others.
As the tick bites do not cause pain, one may not notice any bites.
The condition is a rapidly progressive, severe, and typically deadly condition. It is currently endemic to north Mexico and some areas in the southwestern US.
Signs of RMSF infection may start mild in the early days. These symptoms may include a headache, stomach issues, a low fever, abdominal pain, and swelling and rashes surrounding the eyes and the back of the hands.
On the fifth day or more, individuals could exhibit mental state changes, brain swelling, respiratory issues, coma, and multi-organ damage. Among 5% to 10% of cases end up fatal. Around half of such deaths take place within eight days after the start of the illness.
RMSF signs and symptoms resemble those of other conditions. Nevertheless, it is crucial to see a doctor if any signs or symptoms show up. Some blood tests could be conducted to find evidence of RMSF. However, it may take weeks for the test results to be available. Hence, if healthcare providers believe that the condition could be RMSF, it is crucial to receive antibiotic treatment prior to the availability of test results.
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