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Colorado tick fever - Symptom

Alternative Names

Mountain tick fever; Mountain fever; American mountain fever

Symptoms:

Symptoms of Colorado tick fever start 3 to 6 days after getting the tick bite. A sudden fever continues for 3 days, goes away, then comes back 1 to 3 days later for another few days. Other symptoms include:

Excessive sweating
Generalized weakness
Headache
Joint stiffness
Nausea and vomiting
Occasional rash (may be light-colored)
Sensitivity to light ( photophobia)
Severe muscle aches

Signs and tests:

Tests are done to confirm the infection. These may include:

Complement fixation to Colorado tick virus
Immunofluorescence for Colorado tick fever -- will be positive if the person has the disease

Other blood tests may include:

Complete blood count (CBC) -- will show a lower-than-normal number of white blood cells and may show lower-than-normal platelets
Creatine phosphokinase
Liver function tests

Deer ticks

Ticks

Tick imbedded in the skin

Antibodies

Reviewed last on: 9/28/2008
Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Naides SJ. Arthropod-borne viruses causing fever and rash syndromes. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 405.

Tsai TF. Coltiviruses and seadornaviruses (Colorado tick fever). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005: chap 145.

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