Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Have you had a sudden fever that has lasted a while? Does a rash appear on your arms or legs or even your palms or soles? These are a few of the symptoms of the Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, also commonly referred to as RMSF. Rocky Mountain Spotted fever is an illness that started with a bite from a tiny hard tick who carried the organism that causes the bacterial illness. Rocky Mountain Spotted fever is an acute and a potentially fatal disease when left untreated but can be recognized through its signs and symptoms. Howard Ricketts was a pathologist in 1906 who discovered that the disease transmitted to a healthy person or animal was caused by a tick bite. The online Encyclopedia Britannica shares that Ricketts later discovered that there …show more content…
People affected by this tick bite often just feel achy and weak, leaving adults and children not able to function their best through out the day. Sarah McLellan, writer for USA Today Sports, provides a peek at an athlete’s struggle with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. McLellan writes that Shane Doan, the captain of the Arizona Coyotes hockey team, experienced, “the flu-like symptoms he was coping with – chills alternating with sweats and a nagging headache – led to a sleepless night before the game” (Coyotes’ Shane Doan para 8). These symptoms can often reflect those of many common known infections, however it’s when the symptoms persist that makes a person question what one is actually sick with. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever often isn't noticed by people unless there is a bite mark or a rash starting to cover one’s extremities. McLennan also explains in the article that he showed other signs and symptoms like a fever, a rash on his chest and on the palms of his hands and soles of his feet, and an aching body (Coyotes’ Shane Doan). One could only imagine what it felt like for Doan to go from playing on the ice to feeling sick and in pain. If this disease had gone undetected by a medical professional things could have been much worse. McLennan reflected, “Once he was cleared to go home, Doan spent much of his time in bed. Five days after he left the hospital, he tried to go for a walk outside. He made it …show more content…
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever damages the small blood vessels in various areas of the body. The damaged small blood vessels have the potential to form clots and even leak which can lead to several other problems. The National Organization for Rare Disorders provides examples of the complications that arise throughout different tissue and organ systems. The leakage of fluid from blood vessels can lead to pulmonary edema and pneumonia. The untreated disease can also cause inflammation of the heart which can lead to heart damage. The National Organization for Rare Disorders article further discusses that in severe cases can lead to inflammation of the brain (para 10,11). When left untreated, many areas of the body can become affected such as the kidneys, liver, GI tract, and of course the lungs, heart, and brain as mentioned above. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is not a very common disease, but still occurs in the United States. The illness can be treated easily with antibiotics when detected but when untreated can be detrimental to the body. This disease symptoms can easily wear on a person and not allow one to carry out his or her’s daily activities due to weakness and aches. The best one can do is become aware of one’s body and recognize when something’s wrong and to contact a

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