How to Treat Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick Fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a severe, bacterial illness that results from a tick bite. Ticks are carriers of the disease agent, a rickettsia bacteria, throughout North and South America and can transmit it to humans and other animals. It's especially important to treat Rocky Mountain spotted fever early, because in its later stages, the disease can cause permanent bodily damage and even death.Before the medical use of antibiotics like Tetracycline, more than a third of the victims of Rocky Mountain spotted fever died from infection.

Instructions

• 1

  Observe your health in the first five to 10 days following a tick bite. Visit a doctor at the first sign of fever, gastric distress, muscle aches, loss of appetite or a painless pink rash on the inner arms and ankles.

• 2

  Expect to start a course of antibiotics in the Tetracycline family, such as Doxycycline. Usually, the fever will disappear within three days.

• 3

  Continue taking antibiotics for several days after the disappearance of the fever and other clinical signs. A typical course of antibiotics lasts five to 10 days.

• 4

  Understand that hospitalization may be required if the disease was allowed to progress beyond four or five days without treatment.

• 5

  In the future, wear insect repellent to prevent tick bites and reinfection with Rocky Mountain spotted fever.