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How is Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) spread?
What are the symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)?
What is Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF)?
How is Rocky Mountain spotted fever rickettsiosis (RMSF) diagnosed?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF), is the most severe rickettsiosis in the United States. RMSF is a rapidly progressive disease and without early administration of doxycycline can be fatal within days. Signs and symptoms may change as the illness progresses.
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The most common symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever...
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Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) can be identified by a...
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- Overview
- Symptoms and Causes
- Diagnosis and Tests
- Management and Treatment
- Prevention
- Outlook / Prognosis
- Living With
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a serious illness you get from a tick bite. It’s caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii. Symptoms include a high fever and headache. Rash may start three or more days after other symptoms. RMSF can be life-threatening if not treated quickly with antibiotics. RMSF is found in most states in the U.S.
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What are the symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
Symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever start two days to two weeks after an infected tick bites you. Symptoms usually develop over a few days, starting with fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and muscle pains. Rash develops within three days in about 50% of people. Don’t wait for rash to appear to seek treatment. Symptoms of Rocky Mountain fever include: High fever. Headache. Lack of appetite. Muscle pain or soreness. Rash, usually starting on wrists and ankles and spreading to other parts of your body. Nausea and vomiting. Stomach pain. Sensitivity to light (photophobia). Later, more severe symptoms include: Confusion. Shortness of breath (dyspnea). Anxiety, nervousness or agitation. Seizures. Numbness or weakness.
How does Rocky Mountain spotted fever spread?
Ticks carry and spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In the U.S., the American dog tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick are the main carriers. Other types of ticks, such as the brown dog tick, also carry RMSF in some places.
Can Rocky Mountain spotted fever spread from person to person?
No, Rocky Mountain spotted fever can’t spread from person to person (it’s not contagious).
How is Rocky Mountain spotted fever diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will diagnose RMSF based on a physical exam, your symptoms and whether or not it’s possible that a tick bit you. There are blood and skin tests that can help diagnose Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but they don’t give results fast enough for treatment. Make sure you tell your provider if you traveled anywhere that you could’ve been bitten by a tick in the past two weeks, even if you don’t remember finding a tick bite or a roaming tick on you. It’s important for them to be able to decide if they should treat you for Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
What tests will be done to diagnose Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
Your provider can use blood and skin tests to diagnose Rocky Mountain spotted fever, but the results may not be available right away. Your provider will probably have to decide whether to treat you for RMSF before you test positive. Blood tests. Your provider will take a sample of your blood to test for the bacteria that causes RMSF. Your blood usually won’t be positive for RMSF for seven to 10 days into your illness. You may have to repeat blood tests later in your illness or after you recover. Skin tests. Your provider will use a special cutting tool called a punch (it feels like a poke or a pinch) to get a sample of your skin where you have a rash. They’ll test the sample for signs of R. rickettsii.
How is Rocky Mountain spotted fever treated?
Treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever involves antibiotics. You usually have to take antibiotics for seven to 10 days. Treatment is most effective when it starts within five days of your symptoms appearing. If antibiotics begin too late, RMFS can damage your body and cause life-threatening complications. You may need additional treatments if you have complications. These could include blood transfusion, mechanical ventilation or other therapies.
What medications are used for Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
Doxycycline is the only antibiotic recommended to treat Rocky Mountain spotted fever. If you’re allergic to doxycycline, your healthcare provider may give you chloramphenicol as an alternative. Chloramphenicol can be hard to get in some countries and doesn’t work as well as doxycycline for RMSF.
How do I manage the symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
If your symptoms are mild, you might be able to manage them at home with over-the-counter medications. Ask your provider which medications are safe to take.
How can I reduce my risk of Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
You can reduce your risk of Rocky Mountain spotted fever by avoiding tick bites. Cut your grass regularly. Long grass (over 5 inches) attracts ticks. Stay on cleared paths while in wooded areas. Use bug sprays that have ingredients that repel ticks (such as DEET). Cover as much of your skin as possible with clothing when you’re in the woods or areas with long grass. Some clothing can even come pre-treated with tick repellant. Check yourself for ticks after you’ve been outside. If possible, have someone else check you in places you can’t see yourself (like your back and scalp). Protect your pets from ticks with treatments your veterinarian recommends. Check your pets for ticks often, especially after they’ve been outside.
What can I expect if I have Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
Most people recover from Rocky Mountain spotted fever with no lasting issues if they receive quick treatment after symptoms start. Some people have serious complications that need treatment in a hospital. Even after you recover, it’s possible to have long-term health issues.
Does Rocky Mountain spotted fever ever go away?
Rocky Mountain spotted fever goes away with treatment. Some people have lasting nerve and tissue damage that can cause ongoing symptoms, even when the infection is gone. Without treatment, RMSF has a 20% to 30% fatality rate.
Can you get Rocky Mountain spotted fever more than once?
It’s unlikely that you can get Rocky Mountain spotted fever more than once. Experts think that once you get RMSF, you have immunity — that is, your body knows how to fight it off before you get sick, so you won’t get it again.
How do I take care of myself if I have Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
If your provider is treating you for Rocky Mountain spotted fever, make sure you take all of your medicine as prescribed. If you stop taking antibiotics before the end of the course, you may get sick again. Your provider can tell you how to manage your symptoms at home best. RMSF can get worse quickly. Call your provider right away if you have new or worsening symptoms.
When should I see my healthcare provider about Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
If you have a tick bite or have been in an area with ticks and have symptoms of RMSF, see your healthcare provider right away. If you have a tick bite but don’t have any symptoms, you don’t need to see your provider yet — taking antibiotics when you’re not sick won’t help prevent RMSF.
What questions should I ask my doctor?
How do I take my medication? What new or worsening symptoms should I look out for? How soon should I feel better? When should I follow up with you? A note from Cleveland Clinic Ticks aren’t just an annoyance — their tiny bite can make you very sick. The best way to prevent Rocky Mountain spotted fever is to avoid tick bites. But if a tick bites you and you have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider right away. Early treatment is the best way to get better fast. Medically Reviewed Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 08/25/2022. Learn more about our editorial process.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a bacterial infection spread by a tick bite. It can cause fever, rash, vomiting, and serious complications if not treated with antibiotics. RMSF is not contagious and can’t be spread from person to person.
Mar 25, 2024 · RMSF is a bacterial infection passed to humans and animals by the bite of an infected tick. You don't have to be in the Rocky Mountains to get it. In the United States, it's most common in the Southeast and South Central states during the warmer months. Symptoms include widespread rash and high fever.
- Ann Pietrangelo
It's not spread from person to person. What causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever? RMSF is caused by a bacterium that is spread to people by the bite of an infected tick. In different parts of the U.S., these ticks can transmit the RMSF bacteria: American dog tick. Rocky Mountain wood tick. Brown dog tick. Lone star tick.
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