In 2017, the number of cases of tickborne spotted fever rickettsiosis (SFR) reported to the CDC jumped 46%—from 4,269 in 2016 to a “record” 6,248 cases. The New England, East North Central, and Mid-Atlantic regions in 2017 alone experienced a 215%, 78%, and 65% increase, respectively, although they typically report only a handful of cases each year.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is the most severe of the SFR. It begins with nonspecific symptoms such as fever and headache, and sometimes rash, but when left untreated, the disease can have serious consequences, including amputation. Roughly 1 in 5 untreated cases is fatal; half of those deaths occur within the first 8 days of illness.
However, RMSF is treatable with doxycycline, which can prevent disability and death if prescribed within the first 5 days of illness, meaning that early recognition and treatment can save lives. Yet cases “often go unrecognized because the signs and symptoms are similar to those of many other diseases,” says CDC Director Robert Redfield, MD. Less than 1% of the reported SFR cases in 2017 had sufficient laboratory evidence to be confirmed. And although the annual incidence of SFR in the US increased from 6.4 to 19.2 cases per million persons between years 2010 and 2017, the proportion of confirmed cases went down.
Citing the need to train health care providers (HCPs) on the best methods to diagnose tickborne diseases, the CDC has created a “first of its kind” clinical education tool that uses scenarios based on real cases to help clinicians recognize and differentiate among the various possibilities. The module is self-directed with knowledge checks, reference materials, and an interactive rash identification tool that allows HCPs to compare the rash seen in RMSF with that of other illnesses.
Continuing education credit is available for physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, veterinarians, nurses, epidemiologists, public health professionals, educators, and health communicators. To access the module, go to https://www.cdc.gov/rmsf/resources/module.html