Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
What is Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is
the most severe tick-borne rickettsial illness in the United States. This
disease is caused by infection with the bacterial organism Rickettsia
rickettsii.
How do people get Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
The organism that causes
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick. The
American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and Rocky Mountain wood tick
(Dermacentor andersoni) are the primary athropods (vectors) which transmit Rocky
Mountain spotted fever bacteria in the United States. The brown dog tick
Rhipicephalus sanguineus has also been implicated as a vector as well as the
tick Amblyomma cajennense in countries south of the United States.
What are the symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
Patients infected with
R. rickettsii usually visit a physician in their first week of illness,
following an incubation period of about 5-10 days after a tick bite. The early
clinical presentation of Rocky Mountain spotted fever is often nonspecific and
may resemble many other infectious and non-infectious diseases. Initial symptoms
may include fever, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, lack of appetite and severe
headache. Later signs and symptoms include rash, abdominal pain, joint pain, and
diarrhea. Three important components of the clinical presentation are fever,
rash, and a previous tick bite, although one or more of these components may not
be present when the patient is first seen for medical care. Rocky Mountain
spotted fever can be a severe illness, and the majority of patients are
hospitalized.
In the United States, where do most cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever
occur?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a seasonal disease and occurs throughout
the United States during the months of April through September. Over half of the
cases occur in the south-Atlantic region of the United States (Delaware,
Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, and Florida). The highest incidence rates have been found in
North Carolina and Oklahoma. Although this disease was first discovered and
recognized in the Rocky Mountain area, relatively few cases are reported from
that area today.
Next: How is Rocky Mountain spotted fever diagnosed? »
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