Find out what Rocky Mountain spotted fever is, which killed a dentist in SP – 06/13/2023 – Health

The Secretary of State for Health of São Paulo confirmed on Monday night (12) that dentist Mariana Giordano, 36, died after contracting Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The report was released by the Adolfo Lutz Institute.

The result of the biological samples of the car racing driver and businessman Douglas Pereira Costa, 42, Mariana’s boyfriend, has not yet been released. The two died last Thursday (8).

Understand how contamination by Rocky Mountain spotted fever occurs and how it can lead to death.

What is Spotted Fever?

Acute febrile infectious disease transmitted by ticks infected by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii, present mainly in the star tick. The ticks that transmit Rickettsia are called Amblyomma cajennense and are found throughout the national territory. For transmission to occur, the tick needs to be attached to the skin for at least four hours.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms are, at first, sudden: high fever, pain in the body, in the head, prostration, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and the appearance of reddish spots mainly on the hands and feet, from the second to the fifth day, which can progress to petechiae (small red spots on the skin that resemble mosquito bites) and ecchymosis (purple spots). The disease has mild and severe forms, including hemorrhagic, with evolution to death. The fatality rate can exceed 50%.

Treatment

Antibiotics are administered to prevent the proliferation of bacteria, containing the worsening of the disease. The use of medication should already be done even before confirmation of the result.

How long does it take for the patient’s condition to progress to death?

The individual can progress to death between the 5th and 15th day after the onset of symptoms. It will depend on the agility in the diagnosis and initiation of treatment. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is difficult to diagnose because it has nonspecific symptoms that can be confused with other diseases, such as leptospirosis, zika, dengue and meningitis, among others.

Can any tick transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever?

The main ticks that transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Brazil are three: Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma cooperi (dubitatum) and Amblyomma aureolatum (yellow dog tick).

In the interior of São Paulo, Rocky Mountain spotted fever is associated with the star tick which, in general, occurs in areas of wild forest and riversides. In general, adult men are more affected, as they work in these regions. Nymphs (immature forms of the tick) are the main evolutionary stages involved in transmission and predominate in the colder months.

How to avoid tick bites?

Those who circulate through endemic areas must wear boots, pants and blouses with long sleeves, covering the whole body. It is important to avoid places with tall weeds.

Is there a risk of infection in urban areas?

Yes. O Amblyomma aureolatum found in dogs are involved in the transmission of the disease in metropolitan regions, mainly in cities in the Southeast and South of the country, where the highest number of cases occurs.

What are the endemic areas in São Paulo?

Jundiaí, Campinas and Piracicaba, in particular.

Sources: Tania Chaves, infectologist, professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the Federal University of Pará, and Marcelo Simão, infectologist, professor at the Federal University of Uberlândia (MG). Both are consultants to the Brazilian Society of Infectology.