The state of São Paulo recorded 18 deaths from spotted fever from January to July this year. In the same period, 19 cases of the disease were recorded, according to the State Department of Health (SES-SP).
SP records 18 deaths from spotted fever in 19 confirmed cases
The state of São Paulo recorded 18 deaths from spotted fever from January to July this year. In the same period, 19 cases of the disease were recorded, according to the State Department of Health (SES-SP). The deaths occurred mainly in the...
The disease, transmitted by the bite of ticks infected with the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii, affects people of any age and can kill within a few days when treatment is started late. The first symptoms are nonspecific and often confused with dengue, viruses or leptospirosis.
- High fever, body aches, headache and malaise also tend to appear in the first few days.
- From the third day onwards, reddish spots may appear on the skin, followed by small purplish lesions, mainly on the hands and feet, indicating progression to a more serious phase of the...
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The deaths occurred mainly in the regions of Piracicaba, Americana, Sorocaba, Campinas, São José dos Campos, Santo André and São Bernardo do Campo.
The disease, transmitted by the bite of ticks infected with the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii, affects people of any age and can kill within a few days when treatment is started late.
The first symptoms are nonspecific and often confused with dengue, viruses or leptospirosis. High fever, body aches, headache and malaise also tend to appear in the first few days.
From the third day onwards, reddish spots may appear on the skin, followed by small purplish lesions, mainly on the hands and feet, indicating progression to a more serious phase of the disease. Gangrene in the fingers and ears are more advanced symptoms, as is paralysis that begins in the legs and can progress to affect the lungs.
Jean Gorinchteyn, infectious disease specialist at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, warns that early diagnosis is decisive to avoid serious complications.
"Mortality can reach 80% when antibiotic treatment is not started quickly. The disease causes inflammation of the blood vessels that can compromise the kidneys, liver and brain", he explains.
He also warns that anyone who develops a fever after visiting wooded areas, forests, farms or ecological trails should report this history to their doctor immediately.
It is also necessary to pay attention to dogs, which can enter vegetation areas, return home with ticks attached to their bodies and carry the vector into the home environment.
“The tick can also remain in beds and clothing, increasing the risk of exposure,” he said.
The recommendation to reduce the risk of infection is to avoid entering forested areas and contact with grass and tall vegetation. If this is necessary, long pants, boots and light-colored clothing should be worn, the body and clothing should be inspected after walks and dogs should be protected with collars and specific repellent products.
“Prevention depends on paying attention to the environments frequented and early identification of ticks”, recalls the infectious disease specialist.
Gorinchteyn points out that laboratory confirmation can take up to two weeks. Therefore, when associating symptoms with the places visited, treatment must begin immediately.
“You should not wait for the results of the tests, because delays can allow progression to serious forms”, advises the infectious disease specialist, who is also a professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Mogi das Cruzes (UMC).
If a person finds a tick attached to their body, the Ministry of Health recommends removing it with tweezers, without squeezing or crushing, pulling it firmly. The same goes for dogs.
"After removing the entire tick, wash the bite area with alcohol or soap and water. The faster you remove the ticks from the body, the lower the risk of contracting the disease", recommends the Ministry of Health.
All items of clothing used must be placed in boiling water.
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