Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Unbelievable!
Quote- "In all cases, there was fever and purpuric rash; around 70% manifested myalgias and arthralgias; 28% presented digestive tract bleeding and 11% had severe neurological alterations.
64.2% of the cases received adequate treatment with doxycycline. Eight patients died with a case fatality rate of 57.1%."
Some can also be transmitted by fleas.
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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Brussels
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 13480
posted
From the website above, they do recommend preventative treatment (don't wait for results!!):
"TREATMENT
Treatment of patients with possible rickettsioses should be started when disease is suspected and should never await confirmatory testing, as certain infections can be rapidly progressive.
Immediate empiric treatment with a tetracycline, most commonly doxycycline, is recommended for all ages.
Almost all other broad-spectrum antibiotics are not helpful.
Chloramphenicol may be an alternative in some cases, but its use is associated with more deaths, particularly for R. rickettsii.
In some areas, tetracycline-resistant scrub typhus has been reported.
Azithromycin may be an effective alternative.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections may respond to rifampin, which may be an alternate drug for pregnant patients.
Expert advice should be sought if alternative agents are being considered."
Posts: 6199 | From Brussels | Registered: Oct 2007
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