The Worst Diseases You Can Catch Underground Known as “cave
fever” in Israel, tick-borne relapsing fever is especially
common in Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries. However it
is found in the Western U.S., South America and Africa too. The
bacteria responsible or the disease lives in ticks found in
dark, moist places like caves and abandoned buildings. Symptoms
start with fever, chills, headaches, sore joints and stomach
pain. After improving, a patient suffers a series of relapses.
Patients usually receive a cocktail of the drugs and vaccines
that exist, because none are completely effective. Simple insect
repellent will help cavers avoid tick bites. And, if a tick is
found, it should be removed gently with tweezers pushed close to
the skin. Folk remedies using gasoline, kerosine, nail polish
and lit matches are all bad ideas. Citation: “Infectious
Diseases Associated with Caves.” By Ricardo Pereira Igreja,.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, June 10, 2011. Danielle
Venton is a science writer who f