Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a serious illness you get from a tick bite. It’s caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can affect anyone who’s around ticks, which usually live in tall grass, in wooded areas and on pets that are allowed outdoors. Cases of RMSF occur in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and South and Central America. Ticks carry and spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In the U.S., the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick are the main carriers. Other types of ticks, such as the brown dog tick, also carry RMSF in some places. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can’t spread from person to person
This tick-borne disease can lead to severe complications if not treated early with appropriate antibiotics.
Symptoms

Fever

  • Greater than or equal to 38°C (100.4°F), Less than 38°C (100.4°F)

common

Skin rash and redness

  • At hands, At feet, At wrists, At ankles

  • At chest, At abdomen

  • Petechiae or purpura

common

Headache

  • Severe

or Pain behind eyes

common

Muscle pain

or Joint pain

common

Feel like vomiting

or Throwing up

common

Abdominal pain

or Sore abdomen

common

Fatigue

common

Cough with mucus or without mucus

  • Dry

common

Swelling or lump in eyelid

  • Both sides, Both eyes

or Red eye

  • Both eyes

Confusion

or A sudden and temporary alteration of muscle tone, movements or behavior

or Fainting

or Inability to control body movements

or Difficulty moving neck

or Difficulty hearing

or Intolerance to light

Enlarged or swollen lymph nodes

Diarrhea

Poor appetite

Enlarged feet or ankle

  • In both feet or ankles

or Enlarged arms or hands

or Swelling in lower leg

  • In both lower legs

Yellow eyes or skin

Rapid heart rate

or Irregular heartbeat

or Slow heart rate

Risk factors

Patient remember the bite of tick

Treatment
Treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever involves antibiotics. You usually have to take antibiotics for seven to 10 days. Treatment is most effective when it starts within five days of your symptoms appearing. If antibiotics begin too late, RMFS can damage your body and cause life-threatening complications. <b>Doxycycline</b> is the only antibiotic recommended to treat Rocky Mountain spotted fever. If you’re allergic to doxycycline, your healthcare provider may give you <b>chloramphenicol</b> as an alternative.
Recommended specialist

If you have Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, then a visit to an infectious disease specialist is recommended.

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Infectious disease specialist

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