Dorothy FarrarTick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii
Tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii is an infectious disease that is severe and occurs almost exclusively in America. Forest workers or people who frequently spend time in forest areas are particularly affected.
What is tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii?
Tick-bite fever, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, is a bacterial disease transmitted by ticks and is found almost exclusively in America.
In 1906, the American pathologist Ricketts recognized the disease, which led to the naming of the bacterium . This tick bite fever is one of the so-called rickettsioses.
This refers to any disease caused by the bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. Transmission is by ticks, mites, fleas and lice .
causes
Tick bite fever is caused by an infection with Rickettsia bacteria, which can only survive within a host cell. They are mainly found in the intestinal cells of ticks, for example. The bacteria die quickly in the event of a drought, the use of disinfectants or in artificially produced nutrient solutions. However, rickettsia can still be infectious in the excreta of lice, for example, even months later.
If the bacteria have been transferred into the body, for example by a tick bite , they multiply by continuous transverse division in the host cells. They then spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic vessels within the body. The symptoms are triggered by the destruction of the body cells, which is caused by the bacteria.
symptoms and course
Typical symptoms of tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii:
The first symptoms of tick-bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii usually appear about five to seven days after infection . Initially, the signs of the disease can hardly be assigned. There is a high fever of up to 41 degrees Celsius as well as headaches, muscle and body aches. Other symptoms are general malaise, coughing, photophobia, nausea and sometimes vomiting.
Children often still have severe abdominal pain, which is often confused with appendicitis . In most cases, a massive skin rash also develops, which begins primarily on the wrists, soles of the feet and ankles. From here it spreads over the entire body. The rash is characterized by small, palpable papules and bleeding and usually causes no symptoms.
If tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii is severe or if treatment against rickettsia is started late, additional symptoms such as severe nausea and confusion occur. Unconsciousness and yellowing of the skin are also possible. Tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii is generally more severe in children up to 3 years old and in men, since in these cases complications can occur, such as severe circulatory disorders, kidney failure , etc. This can lead to death.
The possible late effects of the disease include paralysis and a loss of hearing. Tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii must be taken seriously. The disease is curable, but without treatment, it is fatal in about 25 percent of cases. This can affect even previously healthy people.
Diagnose
The infection with tick bite fever by Rickettsia rickettsii can hardly be diagnosed at the beginning, because there are no suitable test methods available for this initial period. At the same time, however, it is important that the disease is treated early enough. Initial suspicions that an infection exists can arise from questioning the patient about their living environment, their travel habits and the onset of the symptoms. Only at a later point in time is it possible to make the diagnosis with certainty, for example through a blood or skin tissue test. The laboratory findings show an increase in rickettsia.
treatment and therapy
In the case of tick-bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, it is important that treatment begins as early as possible, since the chances of recovery become significantly worse if treatment starts after the fifth day of illness. If tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii is suspected, the doctor prescribes antibiotics (group of tetracyclines). These usually contain the active ingredient doxycycline, which fights against the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, the pathogen.
If therapy with doxycyline is not possible, chloramphenicol is available as an alternative. In addition to treating the cause of tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, it makes sense to take further measures to improve the symptoms. These include, for example, painkillers and antipyretics .
prevention
Unfortunately, there are no vaccines available to prevent the disease. The only way to avoid tick bite fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii is to avoid tick bites as much as possible.Anyone who is in the risk areas, i.e. in the North and South American regions, should cover their body well with long clothing outdoors and regularly check for ticks.
Long trousers, long-sleeved clothing for the upper body and a cover for the head are well suited. This makes it more difficult for the ticks to nest and a possible infection with tick bite fever by Rickettsia rickettsii.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.