Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Medical Author:
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD
Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhDDr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. Medical Editor:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical EditorMelissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever OverviewRocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii (transmitted by ticks to humans) that has nonspecific symptoms of fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches with progression to a rash about five to 10 days after an initial bite by an infected tick. RMSF is the most common fatal tick-transmitted disease in the U.S. Worldwide, there are about 18 other closely related Rickettsia spp belonging to a group (spotted fever group) that cause a similar disease process known by many different names (for example, boutonneuse fever, African tick bite fever, Japanese spotted fever). RMSF was first diagnosed in 1896 in Idaho and was first named "black measles" but then was termed Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In 1906, Howard Ricketts showed that ticks were vectors (carriers) and in 1909 showed evidence that bacteria (later named after him) caused the disease. Ticks can act as vectors for many diseases (for example, Lyme disease, tularemia, Q fever) in addition to RMSF. Viewer Comments & ReviewsRocky Mountain Spotted Fever - SymptomsThe eMedicineHealth physician editors ask:What symptoms and signs did you experience with Rocky Mountain spotted fever? |
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Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Abdominal Pain in Children Overview
Abdominal pain is one of the most common reasons for a parent to bring his or her child to medical attention. Evaluation of a "tummy ache" can challenge both parents and the physician.
Possible causes for a child's abdominal pain range from trivial to life-threatening, with little difference in the child's complaints. Fortunately, abdominal pain in a child usually improves quickly. Each parent or caregiver faces the difficulty deciding whether a complaint needs emergency care or not.
Abdominal Pain in Children Causes
- Infections: Viruses or bacteria can cause abdominal pain, typically from stomach flu or gut flu (called gastroenteritis). Viral infections tend to go away quickly, while bacterial infections may need an antibiotic to get better.
- Food-related: Food poisoning (which has symptoms like those of stomach/gut flu), food allergies...
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