Rocky Mountain spotted fever: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a disease caused by a type of bacteria carried by ticks.

T Causes
P RMSF is caused by the bacteria Rickettsia rickettsii (R. Rickettsii), which is carried by ticks. The bacteria spread to humans through a tick bite.
P In the western United States, the bacteria are carried by the wood tick, and in the eastern US, they are carried by the dog tick. Other ticks spread the infection in the southern US and in Central and South America.
P Contrary to the name "Rocky Mountain," most recent cases have been reported in the eastern United States, including North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Most cases occur in the spring and summer and are found in children.
P Risk factors include recent hiking or exposure to ticks in an area where the disease is known to occur. The bacteria are unlikely to be transmitted to a person by a tick that has been attached for less than 20 hours. Only about 1 in 1,000 wood and dog ticks carry the bacteria. Bacteria can also infect people who crush ticks they have removed from pets with their bare fingers.

T Symptoms
P Symptoms usually develop about 2 to 14 days after the tick bite. They may include:
- Chills and fever
- Confusion
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Rash -- usually starts a few days after the fever; first appears on wrists and ankles as spots that are 1 to 5 mm in diameter, then spreads to most of the body. Some infected people don't get a rash.
P Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
- Diarrhea
- Light sensitivity
- Hallucinations
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Thirst

T Exams and Tests
P The health care provider will perform a physical examination and ask about the symptoms.
P Tests that may be done include:
- Antibody titer by complement fixation or immunofluorescence
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Kidney function tests
- Partial thromboplastin time (PTT)
- Prothrombin time (PT)
- Skin biopsy taken from the rash to check for R. rickettsii
- Urinalysis to check for blood or protein in the urine

T Treatment
P Treatment involves carefully removing the tick from the skin. To get rid of the infection, antibiotics such as doxycycline or tetracycline need to be taken. Pregnant women are usually prescribed chloramphenicol.

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P Treatment usually cures the infection. About 3% of people who get this disease will die.

T Possible Complications
P Untreated, the infection may lead to health problems such as:
- Brain damage
- Clotting problems
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure
- Lung failure
- Meningitis
- Pneumonitis (lung inflammation)
- Shock

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P Call your provider if you develop symptoms after exposure to ticks or a tick bite. The complications of untreated RMSF are often life threatening.

T Prevention
P When walking or hiking in tick-infested areas, tuck long pants into socks to protect the legs. Wear shoes and long-sleeved shirts. Ticks will show up on white or light colors better than on dark colors, making them easier to see and remove.
P Remove ticks immediately by using tweezers, pulling carefully and steadily. Insect repellent may be helpful. Because far fewer than 1% of ticks carry this infection, antibiotics are not usually given after a tick bite.

T Alternative Names
P Spotted fever

T Images
- Rocky mountain spotted fever, lesions on arm
- Ticks
- Rocky mountain spotted fever on the arm
- Tick imbedded in the skin
- Rocky mountain spotted fever on the foot
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever, petechial rash
- Antibodies
- Deer and dog tick

T References
P McElligott SC, Kihiczak GG, Schwartz RA. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other rickettsial infections. In: Lebwohl MG, Heymann WR, Berth-Jones J, Coulson I, eds. Treatment of Skin Disease: Comprehensive Therapeutic Strategies. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA:Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 212.
P Walker DH, Blaton LS. Rickettsia rickettsii and other spotted fever group rickettsiae (Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other spotted fevers). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, Updated Edition. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 188.

T Review Date 5/18/2017
P Updated by: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

