Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in the Carolinas

More dangerous than you think, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a real threat in the Greenville area. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) has been reported in almost all of the United States. The CDC reports that 60% of those cases occur in 5 states – North Carolina being one of them. The disease is dangerous can even be deadly if not treated on time.

What is Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever?

RMSF is a tick-borne disease that is caused by a bacteria called Rickettsia rickettsii. The main vectors of this bacteria are ticks. In the Carolinas, the bite of an infected American Dog Tick is how humans become infected.

What are the Symptoms of RMSF?

Within 2-14 days of being bitten by an infected American Dog Tick, you may experience a variety of symptoms. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize they’ve been bitten. Symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, muscle pain, lack of appetite, conjunctivitis, and rash. The rash is the namesake of RMSF, but only about 90% of patients will get the rash and some don’t get it until after treatment should have already begun. Some patients may experience long-term health problems caused by the disease due to damage to blood vessels. The illness can cause blood clots, blood circulation loss in extremities and severe complication related to these issues.

RMSF Treatment & Diagnosis

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is tricky because diagnosing the non-specific symptoms is tricky when the patient does not know they have been bitten. When RMSF is suspected, treatment with Doxycycline is important to start during the first 5 days of symptoms. If caught early and treated, patients can recover fully and completely.

While we don’t want to scare anyone into worrying about RMSF, it is important that we inform you what to look for. This will help you if you become sick in assisting your doctor in diagnosis. If you may have been exposed to ticks and you do become ill, you should see your doctor right away.