Title: Man Loses Both Arms and Part of Feet After Being Bitten by Flea
Subtitle: Texas man miraculously survives septic shock caused by rare typhus infection
By Katherine Donlevy | July 22, 2023 | 2:36am
A single flea bite has left a Texas man without both of his arms and a part of his feet, according to his family. Michael Kohlhof, 35, was rushed to a San Antonio emergency room last month after experiencing loss of feeling in his toes and severe flu-like symptoms, as detailed by his mother in a GoFundMe campaign.
The situation quickly escalated when Kohlhof went into septic shock and was immediately placed in the ICU. Within a span of 24 hours, he required a ventilator, dialysis, antibiotics, vasopressors, and multiple IV medications to keep him alive. His organs began failing rapidly, leading his family to believe that they needed to gather for his final goodbyes, his mother wrote.
Kohlhof’s brother, Greg, spoke to KENS5 and revealed that his sibling “almost died once or twice.” The medical team was concerned about him possibly being brain dead. However, after 11 more days of intense medical assistance, Kohlhof miraculously pulled through and was taken off the ventilator and sedation on July 1. His survival, though remarkable, came at a cost.
According to Kohlhof’s mother, his hands and feet developed dry gangrene due to the vasopressor treatment, a necessary procedure that saved his life. The cause of his sepsis and rapid decline was traced back to typhus, which stemmed from a single flea bite. Kohlhof suffered from a rare type of typhus, which caused him to go into septic shock.
“He was the victim of a severe and traumatic bite from one single flea,” his mother said.
Doctors informed the family that the type of typhus Kohlhof contracted is extremely rare in the US. Flea-borne typhus typically occurs in tropical and subtropical climates worldwide, including specific regions within the United States, such as southern California, Hawaii, and Texas.
Untreated typhus can lead to severe illness and damage to multiple organs, including the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain, as warned by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In most cases, individuals seek medical help after noticing swelling or a rash around the bite mark. Unfortunately, Kohlhof did not experience any symptoms until it was too late.
Due to the severity of the gangrene, doctors were left with no choice but to amputate both of Kohlhof’s hands up to his forearms, as well as half of his feet. His partner, Alishpa Masood, told KHOU11 that if he had waited an additional 48 hours, he would not have survived.
Kohlhof, who is from Houston, had been in San Antonio temporarily to assist his mother during her recovery from foot surgery. He is described as a volunteer, handyman, art lover, and part-time pet sitter, all of which centered around his hands. Nevertheless, his brother Greg reassured him that his capabilities lie within his mind, not just his physical abilities.
The ordeal has brought the family closer together, as they now form a support group for Kohlhof during his rehabilitation process. While he faces significant challenges ahead, his family remains hopeful that he will find new avenues to exercise his passions.
[Photo Credit: Gofundme/JLeene Hardaway / FOX26]
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