| Title | A Tick Bite Can Lead to Limb Amputations | |
| Date | Saturday August 15 2015, @10:29AM | |
| Author | takyon | |
| Topic | ||
| from the sobering-reminder dept. | ||
The woman, 40-year-old Jo Rogers, may have been bitten by a tick while on vacation in Grand Lake, Oklahoma, in early July. Four days after her trip, she experienced flulike symptoms, and was hospitalized a day later, according to CNN.
Doctors tested her for West Nile virus, meningitis and other infections before finally diagnosing her with Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which is caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsia and transmitted by ticks. Rogers' limbs turned black and blue, and doctors amputated her arms and legs below the knees and elbows, CNN said.
Although it happens rarely, amputation can be necessary in cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever if a patient is not treated early enough, said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious-disease specialist and a senior associate at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's Center for Health Security. The antibiotic used to treat the infection works best if it's started before the fifth day of a person's illness, according to the Centers for [Disease] Control and Prevention.
The bacteria attacks the cells lining the blood vessels and provokes an immune response that leads to septic shock. A sobering reminder to outdoorsmen to check for ticks when returning.
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