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Rocky Mountain spotted fever

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Spotted fever

Treatment:

Treatment involves 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: Tetracycline and doxycycline pills are usually not prescribed for children until after all the permanent teeth have come in. These medicines 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.

Expectations (prognosis):

Treatment usually cures the infection. Complications are rare but can include paralysis, hearing loss, nerve damage, and, rarely, death.

Complications:

• Brain damage
• Clotting problems
• Kidney failure
• Heart failure
• Lung failure
• Meningitis
• Pneumonitis
• Shock

Calling your health care provider:

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: 6/22/2007
• Reviewed By: Cyrus Badshah, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University; Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases & Medical Director, Chest (TB)Clinic and Directly Observed Therapy Program, Harlem Hospital Center. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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