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Tick Fever, Pediatric

Amaran Moodley, MD Reviewed 10/2018
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) and Colorado tick fever (CTF) is discussed in this chapter.

  • TBRF is a vector-borne infection characterized by recurrent fevers caused by several spec...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Both TBRF and CTF most commonly present with high fever, headache, myalgia, and chills. A thorough history documenting recent travel and a description of the fever curve are necessary...

TREATMENT

MEDICATION

  • TBRF

    • The treatment of choice is oral tetracycline/doxycycline for 7 to 10 days. Children <8 years of age and pregnant women should receive erythromycin or penicillin.

    • Newer macrol...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

CTF 
  • Patients should avoid donating blood for 6 months after onset of illness.

PROGNOSIS

  • TBRF

    • Generally responds rapidly to appropriate antibiotic therapy without sequelae

    • Mor...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Brackney MM, Marfin AA, Staples JE, et al. Epidemiology of Colorado tick fever in Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, 1995–2003. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis.  2010;10(4):381–385. [View A...

CODES

ICD9

  • 087.1 Relapsing fever, tick-borne

  • 066.1 Tick-borne fever

ICD10

  • A68.1 Tick-borne relapsing fever

  • A93.2 Colorado tick fever

SNOMED

  • 10301003 Tick-borne relapsing fever

  • 6452009 Colorado tick fever (dis...

FAQ

  • Q: When should a clinician suspect tick fever?

  • A: A history of recurring or relapsing fever in the appropriate epidemiologic setting (such as travel history to the western parts of the United State...

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