• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Rickettsial pox

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Rickettsial pox is an infectious disease spread by a mite and characterized by a chickenpox-like rash .

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Rickettsial pox is caused by Rickettsia akari . It is commonly found in the United States in New York City and other city areas. It also has been seen in South Africa, Korea, and Russia. It is spread by the bite of a mite which lives on mice ( Liponyssoides sanguineus ).

The disease begins at the site of the mite bite as a painless, firm, red nodule that develops into a fluid-filled blister that bursts and crusts over. This lesion may be large -- almost up to an inch wide.

Several days later, the patient develops a fever and chills with sweating (diaphoresis), and muscle pain (myalgia). Over the next 2 to 3 days, a rash that looks like chickenpox develops. This rash clears up within a week.

• Review Date: 9/25/2006
• Reviewed By: Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.