If treatment is not started early in a person with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, there may be complications. Long-term effects may involve:
the brain and spinal cord, causing , , or
the heart
the lungs, leading to and lung damage
the kidneys, leading to
the liver, leading to hepatitis
Serious complications include blood clotting problems both of which can lead to death. Long-term effects, including death and neurologic damage, are not uncommon in severe cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Abnormal laboratory findings seen in patients with Rocky Mountain spotted fever may include thrombocytopenia, hyponatremia, or elevated liver enzyme levels. See Laboratory Detection for more information on laboratory confirmation of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be a very severe illness and patients often require hospitalization. Because R. rickettsii infects the cells lining blood vessels throughout the body, severe manifestations of this disease may involve the respiratory system, central nervous system, gastrointestinal system, or renal system.
Host factors associated with severe or fatal Rocky Mountain spotted fever include advanced age, male sex, African-American race, chronic alcohol abuse, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
Deficiency of G6PD is a sex-linked genetic condition affecting approximately 12% of the U.S. African-American male population; deficiency of this enzyme is associated with a high proportion of severe cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
This is a rare clinical course that is often fatal within 5 days of onset of illness.
Long-term health problems following acute Rocky Mountain spotted fever infection include partial paralysis of the lower extremities, gangrene requiring amputation of fingers, toes, or arms or legs, hearing loss, loss of bowel or bladder control, movement disorders, and language disorders. These complications are most frequent in persons recovering from severe, life-threatening disease, often following lengthy hospitalizations
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever can be treated effectively with antibiotics. However, early detection and treatment are the best way to completely recover from both Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease.
Early signs in your pet: high fever, lack of appetite, depression, abdominal pain, coughing and edema of the face and extremities.
Additional signs include nose bleeds, blood in the feces and urine, enlarged lymph glands, hemorrhages of the mucous membranes and retinas, vomiting and diarrhea.
He may also show signs of brain damage, including staggering and convulsions. Blood tests may be needed for confirmation, and immediate supportive treatment for dehydration and hemorrhage started.
Tetracycline is the drug most often effective and the therapeutic response is dramatic and rapid. Following infections, immunity can be lifelong.
Vasculitis is responsible for the rash found in the typical patient with Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This vasculitis also affects the pulmonary vasculature. Approximately 12% to 42% of patients will have a pulmonary infiltrate on chest radiograph.19,21-24
Since the vasculitis is thought to be responsible for the radiographic finding, it is not surprising that an interstitial pattern predominates (85%).
The remaining 15% of patients with Rocky Mountain spotted fever and pulmonary infiltrates have a pattern of consolidation on chest films.19
Rocky Mountain spotted fever leads to adult respiratory distress syndrome in 6% to 9% of patients 19,20,22 in whom catheterization of the right side of the heart has shown noncardiac pulmonary edema.
Hemodynamic monitoring is essential in critically ill patients with Rocky Mountain spotted fever and pulmonary edema because the vasculitis associated with this illness can also affect the blood vessels of the myocardium, resulting in poor pump function.
About 30% of patients with Rocky Mountain spotted fever have cardiogenic pulmonary edema. This is the only tick-borne disease to directly cause congestive heart failure. 21,25,26
Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
Hi Tincup,
Thanks for posting! My puppy was diagnosed last month with Lyme and RMSF after she began mysteriously limping.
Just as we humans are fortunate to have Igenex available to do reliable testing for TBD's the vet world has IDEXX Labs. They are more expensive than the standard labs, but are considered to be the best for pets.
She is being treated with Doxy and is expected to recover completely.
The vet told me that the cases of RMSF among the human population is on the increase in Maryland. She did not know if it was also rising in dogs.
Your post was interesting and quite timely for me.
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Good to know the puppy was diagnosed and is being treated.
You said... "he did not know if it [RMSF] was also rising in dogs."
It could be. I've heard stories of some dogs acting quite strange lately.
But then, I heard their owners were kinda "out-there" too.
posted
Is this test covered under a complete lyme/co infection panel from IgeneX? Just curious, I don't remember seeing it mentioned.
Posts: 501 | From Cleveland Ohio | Registered: Apr 2009
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METALLlC BLUE
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6628
posted
My Quest Blood Test came up twice showing I'd been infected with RMSF. The doctor felt it was an old infection but was treating me with Minocycline for awhile just in case.
-------------------- I am not a physician, so do your own research to confirm any ideas given and then speak with a health care provider you trust.
Leelee
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19112
posted
quote:Originally posted by Tincup: I've heard stories of some dogs acting quite strange lately.
But then, I heard their owners were kinda "out-there" too.
LOL! I think you must be referring to me! LOL!
-------------------- The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King,Jr Posts: 1573 | From Maryland | Registered: Feb 2009
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