Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

 

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Original Editors - David Grinnell from Bellarmine University's Pathophysiology of Complex Patient Problems project.

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Definition/Description

 Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a tick born disease, due to an intracellular pathogen known as Rickettsia rickettsi (JEADV)¹.  This pathogen is carried by ticks and is transmitted to humans via a bite from an infected tick.  Three known ticks in the United States carry this pathogen: the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni) and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineous).  The American dog tick carries the pathogen in the western United States, and the wood tick carries the pathogen in the eastern United States.  (Medline reference)².  This infection was first described in the Rocky Mountains in Idaho in 1896. Howard Ricketts found the causative agent in the early 1900’s. (JEADV)¹.  This systemic infectious disease is treatable, however, if left untreated can be fatal.

Prevalence

United States

Between 1993 and 1996, there were 1253 reported cases of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.  This amount of confirmed incidence is roughly 2.2 cases per million. (JEADV). Since that time period there has been some increase in confirmed cases.  In 2008, the number of cases has jumped to approximately 8 per million.  However, the number of fatalities has decreased and currently is about 0.5%. ³

Worldwide

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Characteristics/Clinical Presentation

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Associated Co-morbidities

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Medications

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Diagnostic Tests/Lab Tests/Lab Values

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Etiology/Causes

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Systemic Involvement

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Medical Management (current best evidence)

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Physical Therapy Management (current best evidence)

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Alternative/Holistic Management (current best evidence)                                                                                                                                    

• Meningoceccemia
• Enteroviral infection
• Typhus
• Ehrlichiosis
• Other rickettsial dieseases
• Immune complex vasculitis
• Typhoid fever
• Leptospirosis
• Dengue
• Infectious mononucleosis
• Bacterial sepsis
• Gastroenteritis or acute abdomen
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia

Case Reports/ Case Studies

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Resources

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Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

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References

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