Spotted fever

Spotted fever
Also known as Rocky Mountain spotted fever. An acute febrile (feverish) disease initially recognized in the Rocky Mountain states, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted by hard-shelled (ixodid) ticks. Occurs only in the Western Hemisphere. Anyone frequenting tick-infested areas is at risk for RMSF. The onset of symptoms is abrupt with headache, high fever, chills, muscle pain. and then a rash .The rickettsiae grow within damaged cells lining blood vessels which may become blocked by clots. Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) is widespread. Early recognition of RMSF and prompt antibiotic treatment is important in reducing mortality. The first person to describe the disease was an ear, nose and throat specialist, Edward Ernest Maxey. Maxey reported the disease in 1899. Seven years later, a pathologist named Howard Taylor Ricketts showed that it was transmitted by a tick bite. The agent that causes the disease was named for him — Rickettsia rickettsii. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is also called tick fever and tick typhus.

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spotted fever n any of various eruptive fevers: as
a) TYPHUS (a)
b) ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER

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any of a group of febrile diseases characterized by a skin eruption, especially several that are caused by tick-borne rickettsiae, such as boutonneuse fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and others.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Spotted fever — Spotted Spot ted, a. Marked with spots; as, a spotted garment or character. The spotted panther. Spenser. [1913 Webster] {Spotted fever} (Med.), a name applied to various eruptive fevers, esp. to typhus fever and cerebro spinal meningitis.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spotted fever — n. any of various febrile diseases accompanied by skin eruptions; esp., Rocky Mountain spotted fever …   English World dictionary

  • Spotted fever — A spotted fever is a type of tick borne disease which presents on the skin. [DorlandsDict|nine/000957182|spotted fever] Types include: * Mediterranean spotted fever * Rocky Mountain spotted feverReferences …   Wikipedia

  • spotted fever — noun any of several severe febrile diseases characterized by skin rashes or spots on the skin • Hypernyms: ↑rickettsial disease, ↑rickettsiosis • Hyponyms: ↑Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ↑mountain fever, ↑tick fever …   Useful english dictionary

  • spotted fever — noun a disease characterized by fever and skin spots, especially (also Rocky Mountain spotted fever) a rickettsial disease transmitted by ticks …   English new terms dictionary

  • spotted fever — spot′ted fe′ver n. 1) pat any of several fevers characterized by spots on the skin, as Rocky Mountain spotted fever 2) pat tick fever …   From formal English to slang

  • spotted fever — noun Date: 1650 any of various eruptive fevers: as a. typhus b. Rocky Mountain spotted fever …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • spotted fever — see meningitis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • spotted fever tick — noun : a tick that transmits the rickettsia of Rocky Mountain spotted fever; especially : a common tick (Dermacentor venustus) of western No. America …   Useful english dictionary

  • spotted fever — Synonyms and related words: African lethargy, Asiatic cholera, Chagres fever, German measles, Haverhill fever, acute articular rheumatism, ague, alkali disease, amebiasis, amebic dysentery, anthrax, bacillary dysentery, bastard measles, black… …   Moby Thesaurus

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