A man from the United States is facing a life without his hands and feet after a single flea bite reportedly gave him a deadly disease. Michael Kohlhof, 35, contracted typhus and nearly died from the illness that caused him to suffer from septic shock and organ failure.
According to a report by NBC News, the Houston resident began to show flu-like symptoms last month after the flea bite, including fever and an upset stomach. His condition worsened until he couldn’t leave bed in late June. That’s when he went to the hospital.
Upon his arrival, Kohlhof went into septic shock, was placed on a ventilator, and given a host of antibiotics as doctors worked to diagnose what was causing him so much pain. He was also put on dialysis. A week later, Kohlhof woke up from his coma and was told that he needed to say goodbye to both his hands up to the forearms and portions of both feet because of dry gangrene, which occurs when sepsis obstructs blood flow to extremities.
It is believed that Kohlhof suffered from a type of typhus called flea-borne. Infected fleas spread this disease and typically affect people living in tropical and subtropical climates where the fleas that carry the bacteria live. It can kill up to 70 percent of those who contract it because it causes multiple organ failures and can be fatal if untreated.
After 11 days in the coma, Kohlhof defied all odds and started showing signs of improvement, his family said on a GoFundMe page. He was taken off the ventilator and sedation medication and opened his eyes for the first time on July 1. But he still faces severe injuries. His mom J’Leene Hardaway says her son developed “dry gangrene” as a side effect of one of the medications that saved his life. The gangrene was so bad that doctors had to amputate his fingers, an inch of his feet, and half of his hands this week.
The family hopes to raise over $100,000 to cover Kohlhof’s medical expenses as he undergoes more surgeries and treatments. They describe him as a volunteer, handyman, and art lover, with all his passions centering around using his hands. They want to ensure that his “fearless” spirit doesn’t have to be dampened by financial difficulties.
Flea bites can cause many conditions, from rashes and hives to allergic reactions like anaphylaxis or even more severe infections. The most dangerous is a bacterial infection known as typhus, often caused by infected fleas and can lead to sepsis and even death if left untreated. Symptoms of typhus include a rash and a fever, ranging from mild to life-threatening. A high-grade headache usually follows them and can be extremely painful. Those who experience symptoms should see a doctor immediately. In many cases, a simple antibiotic will be enough to cure the illness.
