The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received a record number of reports of tick-borne diseases in recent years. According to data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, cases of tick-borne diseases increased more than twofold between 2004 and 2017, from 22,527 to 59,349, respectively.1 Tick-borne diseases now make up more than three-quarters of all vector-borne disease reports,2 and reports of tick-borne rickettsial diseases, such as spotted fever rickettsioses (including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis), account for 24% of these.1 Between 2016 and 2017, cases of spotted fever rickettsioses rose 46% (4,269 to 6,248), anaplasmosis rose 39% (4,151 to 5,762), and ehr-lichiosis rose 19% (1,377 to 1,642).3 Incidence of tick-borne rickettsial diseases varies geographically in the United States and occurrence is seasonal-most illness occurs in the spring and summer.4
Tick-borne rickettsial diseases often present as acute febrile illnesses with nonspecific clinical symptoms including headache, malaise, and arthralgia, and can range from mild to severe.4 Rocky Mountain spotted fever is the most severe rickettsial disease in the United States, with an estimated case fatality rate of 5% to 10%.5 Early treatment with doxycycline is essential for preventing death and severe illness from rickettsial diseases.6 In cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, delayed treatment beyond the fifth day of illness is the single most important predictor of fatal outcome.6
The CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend doxycycline as first-line treatment for people of all ages with suspected rickettsial disease.4, 7 Despite efforts to educate providers on the importance of clinical diagnosis and early treatment with doxycycline, misconceptions persist. According to a recent CDC study, only 53% of commercially insured patients diagnosed with any rickettsial disease between 2005 and 2016 were prescribed doxycycline within 30 days of diagnosis.8
Misconceptions about treatment are even more evident among providers who treat the pediatric population. Children under the age of 10 years represent less than 6% of Rocky Mountain spotted fever cases, but 22% of deaths.5, 9 A 2012 survey of U.S. providers showed that only 35% believed doxycycline was the appropriate treatment for Rocky Mountain spotted fever in children younger than eight years of age; 80% correctly identified it as the preferred treatment in patients eight years and older.10 This discrepancy may contribute to the high mortality rate from Rocky Mountain spotted fever among children.
Historically, tetracycline antibiotics, including doxy-cycline, were contraindicated in children younger than eight years because of reports of tooth staining and enamel hypoplasia.10 Recent studies have shown no tooth discoloration in children treated with short courses of doxycycline, and this finding has led to a change in pediatric recommendations regarding the drug: the 31st edition of the AAP's Red Book now states that short courses of doxycycline are not likely to cause tooth staining or enamel hypoplasia and can be used in children of any age for less than 21 days.7 Moreover, the Red Book continues to highlight the vital importance of doxycycline as the treatment of choice in suspected rickettsial diseases in people of all ages.
To increase provider awareness of recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other tick-borne diseases, the CDC has developed an online training toolkit (available at http://www.cdc.gov/rmsf/resources/toolkit.html) and learning module (available at http://www.cdc.gov/rmsf/resources/module.html). Providers can receive free continuing education and review information pertinent to the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical characteristics, treatment, and diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other U.S. tick-borne diseases. The toolkit includes (1) a narrated instructional video discussing clinical signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever; (2) a physician pocket card, which serves as a quick reference of key facts for clinical diagnosis and treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever; (3) a printable clinical timeline graphic to aid in the diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever; and (4) the Tickborne Diseases of the United States manual, which is a more detailed reference of clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of tick-borne diseases. The hour-long learning module includes a rash comparison tool, which allows providers to test their knowledge of rashes, and two case-based exercises.
Health care professionals can reduce morbidity and mortality from Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other tick-borne diseases through improved awareness, early recognition and diagnosis, and prompt treatment. For more information on other preventive measures, see Preventing Tick-Borne Diseases and visit http://www.cdc.gov/rmsf/index.html.
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