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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Initial signs and symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever often are nonspecific and can mimic those of other illnesses:
- High fever — body temperature reaching 102 F (38.9 C) or greater
- Chills
- Severe headache
- Sensitivity to light (photophobia)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
Later on, these signs and symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever can develop:
- Red-spotted or blotchy rash on your wrists or ankles
- Widespread aches and pains
- Diarrhea
- Restlessness
- Delirium
Although many people experience symptoms within the first week after being bitten by an infected tick, the illness could incubate for up to 14 days after the tick bite.
Characteristic red rash
In most cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, a red, blotchy rash develops on the wrists and ankles, spreading to the palms of your hands and soles of your feet. This usually occurs between days three and five of infection. The rash often spreads up your arms and legs to your torso.
A few people who are infected don't ever develop a rash. If your skin is darkly pigmented, a rash might not be readily apparent. However, the absence of a rash doesn't indicate a milder form of illness and may make the condition more difficult to diagnose.
When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you develop a rash or become sick after a tick bite. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other infectious diseases carried by ticks can progress rapidly and may be life-threatening. If possible, take the tick along with you to your doctor's office for laboratory testing.
- Chen LF, et al. What's new in Rocky Mountain spotted fever? Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2008;22:415.
- Sexton DJ. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 31, 2009.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever: Questions and answers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/disease/rocky_mountain_spotted_fever/faq.htm. Accessed Aug. 3, 2009.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec14/ch177/ch177f.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2009.
- Razzaq S, et al. Rocky Mountain spotted fever: A physician's challenge. Pediatrics in Review. 2005;26:125.
- Walker DH, et al. Rickettsia rickettsii and other spotted fever group rickettsiae (Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other spotted fevers). In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/152732979-3/0/1259/1529.html?tocnode=51381835&fromURL=1529.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2009.
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/rockyMountainSpottedFever/default.htm. Accessed Aug. 3, 2009.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, et al. Diagnosis and management of tickborne rickettsial diseases: Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichioses, and anaplasmosis - United States. MMWR Recommendations and Reports. 2006;55:4. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/PDF/rr/rr5504.pdf. Accessed Aug. 3, 2009.
- Sexton DJ. Treatment of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 31, 2009.
- Removing ticks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/tick_removal.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2009.
