Colorado tick fever natural history, complications and prognosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ilan Dock, B.S.
Overview
First signs of symptoms can occur about 3-6 days after the initial tick bite, although it can have incubation periods of up to 20 days. Patients usually experience a two-staged fever and illness which can continue for three days, diminish, and then return for another episode of 1-3 days. The virus has the ability to live in the blood stream for up to 120 days; therefore coming in contact without proper precautions and the donation of blood are prohibited.
Initial symptoms include: fever, chills, headaches,pain behind the eyes, light sensitivity, muscle pain, generalized malaise abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting as well as a flat or pimply rash. [1] During the second phase of the virus a high fever can return with an increase in symptoms. Colorado tick fever can be very severe in cases involving children and have even required hospitalization. Complications with this disease have included aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, and hemorrhagic fever but these are rare.
Natural History
Early Stage
- Usual incubation period of 3-6 days, however the incubation period may occur for up to 20 days.
- Fever for three days.
- Chills
- Headache
- Sensitivity to the light
- Muscular pain
- Malaise
- Nausea
- Maculopapular rash
Late Stage
- Rash
- Two stage fever. Once the first fever resides after 3 days, a second fever will onset for one to three more days.
If left untreated
- Coloardo tick fever should resolve itself.
Complications
Complications are rarely associated with Colorado tick fever. However complications that may be associated with this disease include:
Prognosis
- The prognosis is usually good in individuals with fully developed and normally functioning immune systems.
- Colorado tick fever may manifest into a severe illness within young populations, especially young children.
References
- ↑ Colorado tick fever fact sheet. Oregon Department of Health and Safety. http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/ph/acd/diseases/ctf/facts.shtml