Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is an infectious tickborne illness caused by the bacterium (Rickettsia rickettsia) transmitted through the bite of an infected American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (D. andersoni) and the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sangunineus).
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Symptoms
Early signs and symptoms can include: Fever, Headache, muscle ache, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and Respiratory compromise. However, the disease can rapidly progress to a serious and life-threatening illness.
Rash is a common sign in people who are sick with RMSF that usually develops 2-4 days after fever begins. The look of the rash can vary widely over the course of illness. Some rashes can look like red splotches and some look like pinpoint dots. While almost all patients with RMSF will develop a rash, it often does not appear early in illness, which can make RMSF difficult to diagnose.
