Very ill patients will need to be hospitalized in an intensive care unit. Although alternative treatments should never be used in place of conventional treatment with antibiotics, they can be useful adjuncts to antibiotic therapy. The use of Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. bifidus supplementaion during and after antibiotic treatment can help rebalance the intestinal flora. Acupuncture, homeopathy, and botanical medicine can all be beneficial supportive therapies during recovery from this disease. This rate is believed to be due to delays in the administration of appropriate medications.
Death rates are higher in males and increase as people age.
It is considered a bad prognostic sign to develop symptoms of RMSF within only two to five days of a tick bite. The mainstay of prevention involves avoiding areas known to harbor ticks. Spray clothing with appropriate tick repellents. Anybody who has been outside for any amount of time in an area known to have a population of ticks should examine his or her body carefully for ticks. Parents should examine their children at the end of the day.