Single flea bite results in amputation of man’s hands and toes, family say

SAN ANTONIO (Gray News) — What started as a single flea bite has now left a Texas man with no hands or toes.

Michael Kohlhof, 35, thought he had flu-like symptoms until his feet went numb.

According to a GoFundMe article from Kohlhof’s family, he went to the emergency room on June 19 and was admitted to intensive care with septic shock.

Kohlhof was diagnosed with typhus, an infectious disease transmitted to humans by fleas, lice and chiggers, his family said.

His brother Customs KENS 5 that Kohlhof’s type of typhus came from a flea.

Doctors told the family that most people treat the disease soon after seeing swelling or a rash at the bite site, but Kohlhof’s brother told KENS 5 he never had these symptoms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flea-borne typhus occurs in tropical and subtropical climates around the world, including parts of the United States – southern California, Hawaii and Texas. However, it is a rare condition in the United States

Kohlhof was put on a ventilator and the day after he was admitted to hospital, doctors told the family to bid farewell.

He defied odds, was removed from sedation on July 1 and opened his eyes days later, his family said in the GoFundMe post. But its complications do not end there.

Family members said in the post that doctors amputated both of his hands on July 10. On Thursday, doctors amputated his toes and part of his feet.

His family said Kohlhof was a jack of all trades and an art lover, with all his passions centering around the use of his hands.

According to his family, Kohlhof does not have health insurance, so they set up the GoFundMe to help pay for medical bills.

“Michael is strong and will undergo countless surgeries, therapies, and rehabilitation, primarily to restore activities of daily living. But he shouldn’t have to worry about financial pain,” reads GoFundMe.

The CDC says there is no vaccine to prevent flea-borne typhus. The best way to reduce your risk of infection is to avoid contact with fleas, including keeping fleas away from pets, avoiding contact with wild animals, and using insect repellent when spending time outdoors.

Copyright 2023 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.