Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)

Your Path

  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)

Sites

  • Brain/meninges, heart, liver, kidney, skin, and generally systemic

Etiology

  • Tick borne
  • Rickettsial infection (obligate intracellular bacteria)

Risk Factors

  • Can occur in most states in US, most commonly: North Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Missouri

Symptoms

  • F
  • C
  • Ha
  • Arthralgias
  • Incubation 2d to 2w
  • Then often generalized erruption 2-5d after fever
  • Can be severe/fatal

Physical Exam Findings

  • Ill appearing
  • Febrile
  • Skin findings of red, non-puritic, blanching macules, typically starting around wrists/ankles; then progresses to trunk and sometimes soles/palms
  • Then often petechiae

Tests

Links