Rocky Mountain spotted fever

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Antibodies	Deer ticks	Rocky mountain spotted fever, lesions on arm	Rocky mountain spotted fever, petechial rash
Rocky mountain spotted fever on the arm	Rocky mountain spotted fever on the foot	Tick imbedded in the skin	Ticks

Spotted fever

The objective of treatment is careful removal of the tick from the skin and antibiotics to eliminate the infection. Doxycycline or tetracycline are frequently used. Chloramphenicol may be used in pregnant women.

Note: oral tetracycline and doxycycline is usually not prescribed for children until after all the permanent teeth have erupted because it can permanently discolor teeth that are still forming. For this disease, it may be used for short periods of time when it is felt that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Treatment usually cures the infection. Complications are rare but can include paralysis, hearing loss, and nerve damage. The death rate is 5 to 7% and usually reflects a delay in seeking treatment.

• pneumonitis
• respiratory or cardiac failure
• meningitis
• brain damage
• clotting problems
• kidney failure
• shock

Call your health care provider if symptoms develop after exposure to ticks or known tick bite. The complications of untreated Rocky Mountain spotted fever can be life threatening.

Review Date: 06/15/2005
Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.