Rickettsial Infection: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Rickettsial infections and related infections such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and Q fever are caused by a group of microorganisms that phylogenetically occupy a position between bacteria and viruses. These infections are generally spread through ticks, mites, fleas or lice. Doctors use a sample of a person’s blood or the rash that he/she has developed to find out whether a person is actually suffering from rickettsial infections or not. However, it has to be kept in mind that rickettsiae are a rather diverse collection of microorganisms and they have several differences and so cannot be classified as a single homogenous group. However, a general characteristic of rickettsiae is that they are naturally hosted by mammals and arthropods. These microbes are generally transmitted to mammals (humans) by arthropods. The rickettsial diseases can vary in severity from self-limited mild illnesses to fulminating life-threatening infections.

Some of the symptoms of rickettsial infection are as follows: fever, rash, severe headache and a general feeling of illness. The affected area develops a sore covered by a black scab. People often tend to confuse this infection with common viral infection like influenza because the rash does not appear for several days. People generally experience confusion and severe weakness as and when the infection progresses.

It would be extremely beneficial for the patient if he/she is given antibiotic therapy in the first week of the illness. The fever usually subsides within 24-72 hours of the initiation of the antibiotic treatment. Doxycycline is the preferred drug, in comparison to other tetracyclines, for the treatment of rickettsial infections. A blood test and an detailed evaluation of the rash is required to understand if a person is actually suffering from rickettsial infection.

Rickettsial infections and related infections such as anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis and Q fever are caused by a group of microorganisms that phylogenetically occupy a position between bacteria and viruses. These infections are generally spread through ticks, mites, fleas or lice. Doctors use a sample of a person’s blood or the rash that he/she has developed to find out whether a person is actually suffering from rickettsial infections or not. However, it has to be kept in mind that rickettsiae are a rather diverse collection of microorganisms and they have several differences and so cannot be classified as a single homogenous group. However, a general characteristic of rickettsiae is that they are naturally hosted by mammals and arthropods. These microbes are generally transmitted to mammals (humans) by arthropods. The rickettsial diseases can vary in severity from self-limited mild illnesses to fulminating life-threatening infections.

Some of the symptoms of rickettsial infection are as follows: fever, rash, severe headache and a general feeling of illness. The affected area develops a sore covered by a black scab. People often tend to confuse this infection with common viral infection like influenza because the rash does not appear for several days. People generally experience confusion and severe weakness as and when the infection progresses.

It would be extremely beneficial for the patient if he/she is given antibiotic therapy in the first week of the illness. The fever usually subsides within 24-72 hours of the initiation of the antibiotic treatment. Doxycycline is the preferred drug, in comparison to other tetracyclines, for the treatment of rickettsial infections. A blood test and an detailed evaluation of the rash is required to understand if a person is actually suffering from rickettsial infection.

The rickettsiae is a diverse group of microorganisms (they are often referred to as bacteria) that are generally transmitted to humans via fleas, lice, ticks or mites. Thus a person who has been bitten by the mentioned carriers and who have developed the symptoms associated with this infection are eligible for the treatment.

These infections are usually mild and uncommon and, hence, not easy to properly diagnose. It takes about 3-10 days for the infection to become apparent. Hence treatment can be initiated after a proper diagnosis is made with a blood test or skin biopsy.

As the symptoms are not always apparent, this infection is often mistaken to be some common ailment like tubercolosis. The bacteria has an incubation period of 3-10 days and it is only after this period that the proper symptoms start to show. Normally, a small, hard black sore first appears at the bite site where the infection was first introduced. So a person becomes eligible for treatment when such symptoms appear and only after a blood test or skin biopsy has confirmed the infection.

If tetracyclines are used to treat rickettsial infections in children, it may cause their teeth to get darkened. Tetracyclines can attach to calcium and cause darkening of the teeth if this antibiotic is consumed during the period of tooth crown formation. Chloramphenicol is another drug used to treat this infection. But it is associated with a number of side effects and require regular monitoring of blood indices. However, it is advisable for pregnant women affected with this infection to not use tetracyclines. This is because it may cause malformation of teeth and bones in the fetus and hepatotoxicity and pancreatitis in the mother.

Rickettsial infections are usually taken care of with the help of antibiotics. This infection may cause you to feel very weak. Thus it is advisable that you take enough rest, eat healthy food and take lots of rest to ensure that your body gets back to its optimum functioning capacity. You should also take precautions and make sure that you do not get bitten by fleas, mites or lice and stop going to places where this infection is widespread.

Rickettsial infections can last from one to several weeks. Medication has to be administered to the affected person in the first week itself. This disease can linger for months if a person is not treated or if his/her treatment does not begin in time.

The symptoms of this disease are not apparent and only a specific blood test and/or skin biopsy of the affected site can confirm the disease. If it goes undetected, a person can suffer for months on end.

The Weil Felix test helps to detect infection due to Rickettsial organisms. In our country, the cost of this test varies between Rs.500- 1000. Doxycycline is the most common tetracycline which is used to treat rickettsial infections and it may cost as low as Rs 30 and also as high as Rs 700 for 100 mg. However, if the infection is not detected in the initial stage, this disease may linger for months. This may cause the treatment cost to go up substantially.

The Rickettsial infections are caused by the fleas, lice, mites and ticks. A person gets affected by this infection when he/she comes in contact with arthropods carrying the bacteria. Hence, a person can get affected with this infection even after he has undergone treatment before. So the results of the treatment are not permanent. If a person again goes to a place infested with such arthropods which carry this bacteria, he might develop the symptoms again.

The primary method to treat rickettsial infections is to administer antibiotics. Although the most commonly used antibiotic is doxycycline, other alternative drugs are also used. Some of the other drugs include chloramphenicol and Azithromycin. It is always better to consult a doctor before taking alternative medication.