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Rickettsialpox occurs mostly within cities. In the United States, the disease has cropped up in such places as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. It has also been identified in Russia, Korea, and Africa.
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What is Rickettsialpox?
Rickettsialpox is a relatively mild disease caused by a member of the bacterial family called Rickettsia.
What causes Rickettsialpox?
The specific bacteria responsible for rickettsialpox is called Rickettsia akari. A person contracts this bacteria through the bite of an infected mite.
What is the prognosis for rickettsialpox?
Prognosis for full recovery from rickettsialpox is excellent. No deaths have ever been reported from this illness, and even the skin rash heals without scarring.
What does Rickettsialpox cause?
Rickettsialpox causes rash, fever, chills, heavy sweating, headache, eye pain (especially when exposed to light), weakness, and achy muscles.
How is rickettsialpox treated?
rickettsialpox is such a mild illness, some practitioners choose to simply treat the symptoms (giving acetaminophen for fever and achiness, pushing fluids to avoid dehydration ). Others will give their patients a course of the antibiotic tetracycline
How is Rickettsialpox transmitted?
Like other members of the family of Rickettsia, the bacteria causing rickettsialpox live in mice. Tiny mites feed on these infected mice, thus acquiring the organism. When these mites feed on humans, the bacteria can be transmitted.
How is rickettsialpox prevented?
As with all mite- or tick-borne illnesses, prevention includes avoidance of areas known to harbor the insects, and/or careful application of insect repellents.
How long does it take rickettsialpox symptoms to appear?
After a person has been bitten by an infected mite, there is a delay of about 10 days to three weeks prior to the onset of symptoms.
Are mites a vector transmitted disease?
No. Mites are parasitic arthropods. They are external parasites, meaning that they do not penetrate the body. They may cause an infestation, but not a disease (or an infection). However, they can be vectors of disease, such as typhus and rickettsialpox.
What is the first symptom of Rickettsialpox?
The first symptom is a bump which appears at the site of the original bite. The bump (papule) develops a tiny, fluid-filled head (vesicle). The vesicle sloughs away, leaving a crusty black scab in its place (eschar).
What do rickettsiae carry?
Rickettsiae bacteria carry yphus, rickettsialpox, Boutonneuse fever, African tick bite fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Flinders Island spotted fever and Queensland tick typhus (Australian tick typhus).
How does Rickettsialpox progress?
In about a week, the patient develops a fever, chills, heavy sweating, headache, eye pain (especially when exposed to light), weakness, and achy muscles. The fever rises and falls over the course of about a weak. A bumpy rash spreads across the body.
