Do you know her or have you heard or read about her? Here we want to explain what is rickettsia and why should they care about this disease that can transmitted by fleas from rats and cats.
What is Rickettsia?
According to the very Federal Ministry of HealthRickettsia typhi is a disease that is transmitted through the fleas of rats and cats.
They further point out that la rickettsiosis encompasses a group of infectious diseases caused by at least eight different species of bacteria in the genus Rickettsia.
Yes, they indicate that these bacteria are related to poor hygienic conditions since they are transmitted by vectors, mainly ticks.
What are the symptoms of this disease?
The Mexican health authorities indicate that after the transmission of the bacteria by the bite of an infected tick or flea, there is a period of incubation from three to 14 days.
It is during this time that symptoms such as the following begin to appear: severe headache, fever of 39°C, rashes, muscle pain, general malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia and abdominal pain.
How deadly is Rickettsia?
The federal Ministry of Health indicates that the severity of Ricketssia varies and that its lethality ranges from 5 to 40%. And it is that they add that, since it is not such a well-known disease, people rarely associate tick or flea bites with the symptoms they present.
Being more specific, the authorities indicate What are the rickettsiae of greatest epidemiological importance?:
- Proazekii: Its main vector is the human body louse
- Typhi: It is transmitted through rat and cat fleas
- Rickettsii: It is spread by the dog tick and causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
For all this, and to finish, they recommend that in case of any possible symptom of rickettsiosis, consult a doctor to rule out the disease or start the appropriate treatment.
