Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (cont.)
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. IN THIS ARTICLE
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever TreatmentTreatment with antibiotics should begin as soon as RMSF is suspected; the clinical picture described above is enough to justify immediate treatment. Doxycycline (Vibramycin) is the antibiotic recommended by most investigators to treat RMSF in both adults and children. Dosage depends on the weight and age of the patient; chloramphenicol is recommended for pregnant females to reduce the chance of tooth and bone malformations in the fetus. Antibiotics are usually given for about five to 10 days or until the fever has been gone for at least three days. Severe cases may need additional treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital for ventilation, blood pressure support, and other life-saving treatments. 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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