Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is a bacterial infection spread by specific tick species, potentially leading to a range of unpleasant symptoms and, in severe cases, proving fatal. Discover more about this relatively unknown yet significant infection below!

RMSF is attributed to a bacterial infection known as Rickettsia Rickettsii, transmitted through tick bites. Swift intervention is crucial, as the infection has the potential to be life-threatening.

Contrary to its name, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is not confined to the Rocky Mountain region. Tick-borne RMSF infections are predominantly observed in central and southern parts of North America. Notable states with frequent RMSF reports include North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.

Various tick species capable of transmitting RMSF include the American dog tick (found in the eastern and southern US), the Rocky Mountain wood tick (predominant in the northwestern US), and the brown dog tick (common in the southwestern US and Mexico).

Rickettsia, or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, is one of the most commonly diagnosed co-infections associated with Lyme Disease, because it is easily detected ...

Ticks capable of transmitting RMSF include the American dog tick in the eastern and southern United States, the Rocky Mountain wood tick in the northwestern United States, and the brown dog tick found in the southwestern United States and Mexico.

Symptoms:

Early Symptoms (1-4 days):

Headache
Elevated fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Loss of appetite
Swelling around the eyes or on the back of hands
Rash or a dark scab that forms at the bite site, typically 2-4 days after the onset of fever.

While nearly everyone (90%) who contracts RMSF will eventually develop a rash, it only surfaces in 50% of individuals within the initial 3 days and often emerges later in the illness, contributing to the diagnostic challenges of RMSF. Initially, the rash may manifest as pinpoint brown, pink, or red spots. As the infection progresses, the rash may transform into splotchy red patches, representing a serious indicator.

Long-term Symptoms:

Hearing loss
Paralysis
Internal organ damage
Neurological damage leading to mental disability
Vascular damage severely impairing blood circulation, necessitating amputation of fingers, toes, and even entire limbs in severe cases.
Additionally, individuals with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly, children, and immunocompromised individuals, are at a significantly higher risk of contracting RMSF.

Working With Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever:

While untreated RMSF can pose a danger in its acute stages, there exists a potential for the infection to persist chronically in the body. Stress triggers that compromise the immune system may lead to the opportunistic reactivation of the infection, resulting in debilitating symptoms. Although the original infection may have been brought under control by the immune system or antibiotics, complete eradication of all Rickettsii microbes may not have been achieved. Currently, the notion of RMSF as a chronic condition is not widely accepted in conventional medicine, similar to chronic Lyme disease.
Identifying RMSF is challenging due to symptoms that mimic various other conditions, leading to delayed and inaccurate diagnoses. Conventional medicine suggests antibiotics, like doxycycline, for tick bites, as testing for RMSF can take weeks. A holistic approach may involve specific herbal tinctures targeting R. Rickettsii and potential co-transferred microbes, along with natural methods to bolster the immune system using adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms. Strengthening the immune system preventatively is crucial, considering the difficulty in promptly identifying an inevitable bug bite.
RMSF has been recognized in the US since the 1920s. The number of cases surged from 495 in 2000 to 6,248 in 2017. Literature reviews estimate fatality rates between 0.5-10% of RMSF cases, with the fever caused by R. Rickettsii responsible for more human deaths than any other tick-borne disease.

Testing for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever:

Vibrant Wellness' Tickborne 2.0 Panel stands out as the inaugural test conducted on a silicon micro-array platform, offering unparalleled specificity and sensitivity in the industry for identifying tickborne diseases.

In the United States, prevalent tickborne diseases encompass Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Bartonella infections, Ehrlichiosis, Rickettsiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Lyme disease.

A blood sample is required for the test. Fasting is not required.

At The Redefining Wellness Center, we highly urge you to work with a practitioner when dealing with Lyme disease or Lyme co-infections. Click here to start your journey to work with us!

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