Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Basics
Basics
Basics
Description
Description
Rickettsial invasion of small blood vessels:- Causes direct vascular damage
- Superimposed additional vascular damage/vasculitis due to immunologic phenomena
Etiology
Etiology
- Acute infection by Rickettsia rickettsii via tick vector:
- Dermacentor andersoni (wood tick) in the western states
- Dermacentor variabilis (dog tick) in the eastern states
- Reported in all states; 1/2 of cases occur in 5 states (NC, SC, TN, OK, AR), as well as parts of Central America and South America
- More common April–September, but can occur any month
- More common in males and in individuals 40–64 yr of age
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