Relapsing fever

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Tick-borne relapsing fever, Louse-borne relapsing fever

• Sudden onset of high fever
• Rigors
• Headache; neck stiffness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Muscle aches (myalgia)
• Joint aches (arthralgia)
• Bleeding
• Seizures
• Unsteady gait
• Facial droop
• Coma
• Weakness

Relapsing fever should be suspected in persons coming from a high-risk area who have repeated episodes of fever. This is particularly true if the fever is followed by a "crisis" stage, and if the person may have been exposed to lice or soft-bodied ticks.

A blood smear is frequently taken to see what is causing the infection. Certain blood antibody tests are sometimes used.

Review Date: 11/27/2006
Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.