Treatment:

Rat-bite fever is usually treated with antibiotic therapy. Your health care provider may prescribe penicillin or tetracyclines for 7-10 days.

Expectations (prognosis):

The prognosis is excellent with early treatment.

Complications:

• Pericarditis
• Endocarditis
• Parotitis (inflammation of the parotid glands)
• Inflammation of the tendons (tenosynovitis)
• Abscesses of the brain or soft tissue

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you or your child has had recent contact with a rat or other rodents, particularly if the person was bitten or has symptoms of rat-bite fever.