Tick typhus
Also known as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, an acute febrile (feverish) disease initially recognized in the Rocky Mountain states, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted by hard-shelled (ixodid) ticks. Occurs only in the Western Hemisphere. Anyone frequenting tick-infested areas is at risk for RMSF.
The onset of symptoms is abrupt with headache, high fever, chills, muscle pain. and then a rash. The rickettsiae grow within damaged cells lining blood vessels which may become blocked by clots. Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) is widespread.
Early recognition of RMSF and prompt antibiotic treatment is important in reducing mortality.
The first person to describe the disease was an ear, nose and throat specialist, Edward Ernest Maxey. Maxey reported the disease in 1899. Seven years later, a pathologist named Howard Taylor Ricketts showed that it was transmitted by a tick bite. The agent that causes the disease was named for him — Rickettsia rickettsii.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever is also called spotted fever and tick fever.
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Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
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See Rocky Mountain wood tick.
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The mouth parts of the tick are grasped with the tweezers as close to the skin as possible; Apply firm steady pressure upward until the tick releases – do not jerk, twist, squash or squeeze the tick; Clean the wound and the tweezers with an antiseptic. Do not use petroleum jelly or nail polish remover, […]
- Tick-borne rickettsioses of the eastern hemisphere
There are 3 known diseases caused by infection with rickettsial agents. They are North Asian tick-borne rickettsiosis, Queensland tick typhus, and African tick typhus (fievre boutonneuse).
- Tick-borne rickettsiosis, north Asian
One of the tick-borne rickettsial diseases of the eastern hemisphere, similar to Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but less severe, with fever, a small ulcer (eschar) at the site of the tick bite, swollen glands nearby (satellite lymphadenopathy), and a red raised (maculopapular) rash.