A family in mourning following the death of a 2-year-old girl calls to become aware of the tick-borne macular fever

After the tragic death of 2-year-old Kenley Ratliff, his family raises awareness about the tick-borne disease that has cost him his life in hopes that other children can be saved.

What are the details?

Kenley died earlier this month from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, a rare bacterial infection that can be fatal if it is not treated on time. But the symptoms of the disease are consistent with a range of other diseases, especially in children, which often delays the diagnosis.

Such a delay is what makes children particularly vulnerable to illness and that is ultimately what led Kenley to die a few days after having contracted it.

The girl's mother, Kayla, realized that her daughter was sick when the girl fell with a fever of 103.8 degrees. Kayla rushed Kenley to the emergency room, where doctors found a virus or bacterial infection and sent her home with amoxicillin, reported "Today" on NBC.

The next day, Kenley's temperature reached 104 and Kayla took her to the emergency where she was tested for strep throat. The test was positive and Kenley was sent home once again.

Kenley fever persisted for another three days and the family began to panic. By the time the little girl came back to the hospital a third time, a rash had appeared on her arms and legs. She was admitted and the doctors discovered that she had other symptoms consistent with the disease: her brain was swollen and her organs were starting to fail.

Once the doctors realized that she had Rocky Mountain spongy fever, they started administering the right antibiotic – doxycycline – to treat it, but it was too late and Kenley's body did not have it. was not able to effectively fight the disease, reported "today."

Kenley's aunt Jordan Clap said his grieving family wanted to raise public awareness so that what happened in Kenley could put others on the alert. She said "today," "If we could save the life of a child, we would have done our job."

What else do I need to know?

The Centers for Disease Control report that symptoms usually start with fever and headaches, and that potential infection symptoms include vomiting, stomach pain, muscle aches, nausea, a lack of appetite and usually a rash appearing within 2 to 4 days.