Rocky mountain spotted fever (bacterial infection spread by ticks)

Description Caused when a tick ...

Description

Caused when a tick from a family of ticks known as Ixodidae or hard ticks bites a human. The tick passes the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii into the blood stream of the infected person causing an illness with a fever and 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

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
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.

Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), X-ray

Other Specific Tests: Indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test, latex agglutination, enzyme immunoassay.

Specialists:
Infectious Disease Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine

Treatment

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.