Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever is a serious bacterial infectious disease contracted through the bite of an infected tick. It is the most dangerous of the tick-borne diseases, and can be fatal if left untreated. Treatment is in the form of antibiotics, and survivors of Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever are thereafter considered immune to the disease. Symptoms are numerous and appear from three to 14 days after the infected tick bite.
-
Fever
-
A classic symptom of Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever is a sudden, debilitating, high fever that can last for up to three weeks. The fever can be accompanied by intermittent bouts of chills, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The fever and other symptoms are often severe enough to warrant hospitalization.
Headache
-
Frequently accompanying the high fever is a severe headache. In adults, a migraine-like headache with sensitivity to light can occur. The headache usually lasts for the duration of the fever.
Fatigue
-
Fatigue is a common symptom of Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever and can be serious enough, in combination with the high fever, to keep the patient bedridden.
Deep Muscle Pain and Joint Pain
-
Muscle pain with Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever is described as a deep ache similar to that felt with influenza, and it occurs early in the disease. As the disease progresses, pain can spread into the joints.
Rash
-
The rash associated with Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever begins on the extremities, soles and palms, and may spread to the abdomen and other areas of the body. The rash appears as scaly, red, raised spots on the skin, and usually occurs within two to five days after the fever begins. It is considered a telltale sign of the disease; however, not every patient gets the rash, or it may be a delayed symptom.
Severe Symptoms and Health Consequences
-
Some cases of Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever can be so severe that the infection will attack the body's organs and become life-threatening. Those who do recover from severe cases can face long-term medical problems, including paralysis, gangrene, bowel and bladder disease, speech and movement difficulties, hearing loss, pneumonitis, hepatitis and myocarditis. The fatality rate for untreated Rocky Mountain spotted tick fever is up to 30 percent. Prompt medical treatment is necessary.
-