With 48 cases registered in Brazil in 2023, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is transmitted by tick bites and caused by bacteria of the genus Rickettsia. The disease is not passed directly between people by contact. In Brazil, the main vectors are ticks of the genus Amblyomma. This month, three people who attended an event at Fazenda Santa Margarida, in Campinas (SP), died with symptoms of the disease. One of them, a 36-year-old woman, had her diagnosis confirmed. According to the Ministry of Health, the disease usually manifests itself suddenly, with a set of symptoms similar to those of other infections: high fever, pain in the head and body, lack of appetite and discouragement. Then it is common for small reddish spots to appear, which grow and become prominent. The condition is aggravated by nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, constant muscle pain, swelling and redness in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, gangrene in the fingers and ears. In the most severe cases, there may be paralysis, starting in the legs and moving up to the lungs, which can cause respiratory arrest. Prevention Rocky Mountain spotted fever prevention is based on preventing contact with the tick. Therefore, in places where there will be exposure to the animal, some measures can help to avoid infection, such as wearing light-colored clothes to help identify the animal; wear pants, boots and blouses with long sleeves when walking in wooded and grassy areas; avoid walking in places with grass or tall vegetation and use insect repellents. In addition, the Ministry of Health recommends removal – with tweezers – if a tick is found on the body; do not squeeze or crush the animal and, after removing it in one piece, wash the bitten area with alcohol or soap and water. The faster you remove ticks from your body, the lower your risk of contracting the disease. Diagnosis Early diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is very difficult, especially in the first days of the infection, since the first symptoms can be confused with those of other diseases, such as leptospirosis, dengue, viral hepatitis, among others. But what is important for the case, according to the Ministry of Health, is whether the patient has been in forests, forests, farms, ecological trails where he may have been bitten by a tick. The health professional should also request tests to confirm or contribute to the diagnosis. Treatment According to the Ministry of Health, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is curable as long as treatment with specific antibiotics is administered in the first two or three days of the infection. The drug should be administered as soon as the first symptoms appear, even without a confirmed diagnosis, as it may take a while. According to the Ministry of Health, in certain cases, hospitalization of the person may be necessary. The therapy is used for a period of 7 days, and should be maintained for 3 days, after the end of the fever. Delay in diagnosis and, consequently, in the beginning of treatment can cause serious complications, such as impairment of the central nervous system, kidneys, lungs, vascular lesions and lead to death.
Agência Brasil
Folha Nobre - Desde 2013 - ©