Relapsing fever

Alternative Names:
Tick-borne relapsing fever, Louse-borne relapsing fever

Symptoms:


Signs and tests:

Relapsing fever should be suspected in someone coming from an endemic area who has repeated episodes of fever, particularly if fever is followed by a "crisis" stage, and if the person thinks they may have been exposed to lice or soft-bodied ticks.

A blood smear is frequently obtained to see if the organism is present. A culture for this organism is not widely available in most laboratories. Certain blood antibody tests are sometimes used.




Review Date: 1/3/2003
Reviewed By: Camille Kotton, M.D., Infectious Diseases Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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