Rocky mountain spotted fever
About Rocky mountain spotted fever
Caused by the bite of a family of ticks known as Ixodidae or hard ticks. The tick passes the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii into the blood stream of the infected person causing a febrile illness associated with a rash. The disease can be fatal 20%-30% of the time if untreated. Despite its name the disease is found throughout the United States. Treatment reduces the mortality rate from 20% to 5% and should be started as soon as possible. The disease is most common between April and September and most commonly affects the age groups of 5-9 and 60-69.Symptoms
Headache, high fever (>102 F), vomiting, abdominal pain, a red blotchy rash that begins on the wrists and ankles and moves inward (centripetal), confusion, diarrhea. The rash usually begins 3-5 days after the infection.Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical will be performed. The diagnosis is many times suspected by the clinical picture and history of a tick bite. Blood tests confirm the diagnosis.Common tests: Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), X-ray.
Prescription medications
Conventional treatment summary
Therapy depends on the severity of the illness Three fourths of the patients require hospitalization. Antibiotics used include: doxycycline (Vibramycin), and chloramphenicol. In severe cases, the hospitalized patient may require medications to support the blood pressure as well as a breathing machine.Medical specialties
Infectious Disease Medicine · Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Rocky mountain spotted fever.