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ENCYCLOPEDIA INDEX

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Rocky Mountain spotted fever

Alternative Names:

Spotted fever

Symptoms:

fever
chills
incubation period of 2 to 14 days
severe headache
muscle pain
mental confusion
rash, first appearing on wrists and ankles, then spreading to most of the body, usually starts a few days after fever starts; up to 20% of people do not get a rash

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Signs and tests:

low platelets
low red blood cell count in 30% of patients
possible renal failure, elevated creatinine
possible clotting problems, elevated PT and PTT
blood in the urine and protein in the urine
antibody titer by complement fixation or immunofluorescence that indicates the presence of infection
skin biopsy at the site of the rash may show the Rickettsia rickettsii

Rocky mountain spotted fever, lesions on arm	Deer ticks	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