Picture of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (Hand)

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Rocky Mountain spotted fever gets its name from the rash that develops after being bitten by a tick infected by the Rickettsia rickettsii bacteria. The first symptoms are a fever and a headache before the rash appears. Spots usually start to appear about 5 to 10 days on the wrists and ankles after the bite, working its way up the torso and even onto the face like shown here. Symptoms can last three weeks or longer. You should seek treatment as soon as you start developing symptoms after a tick bite because the illness can become debilitating.