Life-threatening, small vessel vasculitis
Caused by infection with Rickettsia rickettsii, an obligate intracellular gram-negative coccobacillus, predominantly transmitted by three spe...
History: classic triad of fever (high, abrupt onset), headache, and rash seen in ~50% of cases
Abdominal pain common mainly in children
Symptoms usually appear 2 to 8 days after tick bi...
Treat empirically if clinical suspicion.
3rd-generation cephalosporin indicated to treat potential meningococcemia until blood culture results final
Platelets as indicated for ...
Related...
Akgoz A, Mukundan S, Lee TC. Imaging of rickettsial, spirochetal, and parasitic infections. Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2012;22(4):633–657. [View Abstract on OvidInsights]
Andersen...
186772009 Rocky Mountain spotted fever (disorder)
240616003 Eastern Rocky Mountain spotted fever
240615004 West...
Q: In which patients should Rocky Mountain spotted fever be considered in the differential diagnosis?
A: Anyone with a fever during the spring and summer who has been in an endemic area, regardless...
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<bold>FIGURE 28-1</bold> <bold>Electron micrograph of a thin section of a human endothelial cell infected with <i>Rickettsia rickettsii</i>, the etiological agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever.</bold> The rickettsiae are the dark, rod-shaped bacteria in the nucleus, about the same size as the mitochondria and smaller than most other bacteria. These rickettsiae have invaded the nucleus. Although <i>R. rickettsii</i> organisms usually occupy the cytopla...
<bold>FIGURE 28-1</bold> <bold>Electron micrograph of a thin section of a human endothelial cell infected with <i...
<bold>FIGURE 28-4</bold> <bold>Cross-section of a blood vessel from the dermis of a patient with Rocky Mountain spotted fever.</bold> The rickettsiae are visualized within endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells as tiny purple–red dots in clusters. Notice the infiltration of the vessel with lymphocytes and histiocytes.
<bold>FIGURE 28-4</bold> <bold>Cross-section of a blood vessel from the dermis of a patient with Rocky Mountain spotted...
FIG. 11.72. Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This boy, recently returned from a camping trip during which he sustained numerous tick bites, presented with fever, headache, and rash. He has the typical exanthem of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which begins on the ankles and wrists, spreads to the palms and soles, and evolves from maculopapular to petechial.
FIG. 11.72. Rocky Mountain spotted fever. This boy, recently returned from a camping trip during which he sustained numerous tick bites, p...
<bold>Figure 67-6</bold> Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). Note the multiple petechial lesions on the forearm. (Courtesy of Steven Manders, MD.)
<bold>Figure 67-6</bold> Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). Note the multiple petechial lesions on the forearm. (Courtesy of...
<bold>FIGURE 18-7.</bold> Arthropod ectoparasites and vectors of human infectious diseases. (<italic>A</bold>) <italic>Dermacentor andersoni</bold>, the wood tick; one of the tick vectors of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. (<italic>B</bold>) <italic>Xenopsylla</bold> cheopis, the oriental rat flea; the vector of plague and endemic typhus. (<italic>C</bold>) <italic>Pediculus humanus</bold>, the human body louse; a vector of epidemic typhus. (<italic>D</bold>) <italic>Phthirus pubis</bold>, the pubic louse; because of its appearance, it is also known as the crab...
<bold>FIGURE 18-7.</bold> Arthropod ectoparasites and vectors of human infectious diseases. (<italic>A</bold>) ...
Rocky mountain spotted fever. A severe petechial and purpuric eruption is noted on the arm in this fatal case.
48 yo diabetic with fever and petechial eruption; likely dx after investigation was Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)