Daniel Miller, 16, of Lorena, Texas, continues to suffer the effects of a deadly tick-borne illness after being bitten four years ago.
Miller had been on a hiking trip to Utah with his family when he was bitten by a tick carrying Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).
RMSF is a serious, potentially deadly, bacterial disease that is spread through the bite of ticks. According to the CDC, it is the world’s most deadly tickborne illness.
Between 4,000 to 6,000 tickborne spotted fever cases, including RMSF, occur in the United States annually, with about 60% of these cases occurring in Tennessee, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Missouri. Bites resulting in infection typically occur in the summer months but can happen at any time in areas with a warmer climate.
Symptoms associated with this disease include nausea, muscle pain, stomach pain, a rash, fever, and more.
“For a couple weeks, I was just really tired, and didn’t eat very much,” said Miller, according to KWTX. “And then I woke up one day and I was really sick. I could barely get off the couch.”
Four years later, Miller has survived the disease but now deals with the lingering effects of the illness in the form of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis, otherwise known as chronic fatigue syndrome, is a long-term illness that is characterized by severe fatigue and other symptoms such as dizziness, pain, and issues with cognitive function.
It is estimated that between 836,000 and 2.5 million Americans are affected by this condition. However, most have not been diagnosed, according to the CDC.
Years after first being bitten, Miller reports having similar symptoms as he had in the weeks after he was initially infected and has found difficulty in conducting day-to-day activities.
“I’m a lot more tired, and I don’t have as much energy as most people do,” said Miller, according to KWTX.
Because of the physical and mental demands of public school, Miller began homeschooling this year. He has also found a new focus in fishing and has even entered tournaments.
The CDC reports that while there is no vaccine for RMSF, it is preventable. Prevention begins by knowing where to expect to find ticks — “in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals.”
Clothing and gear should be treated with 0.5% permethrin, an insecticide. The CDC also recommends using EPA-registered insect repellents containing active ingredients like DEET.
Another way to avoid ticks is to walk in the center of trails, staying clear of wooded and bushy areas. Upon arriving home, before heading inside, everyone and everything, including pets, should be checked carefully for ticks. Lastly, the CDC recommends showering within two hours of arriving home.
