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Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Case Study

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Diagnosis
Rickettsia rickettsii Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) can be challenging to diagnose. Each patient can have different symptoms which can resemble other common diseases. Rocky Mountain spotted fever is characterized by a sudden onset of moderate to high fever (which can last for two or three weeks), severe headache, fatigue, deep muscle pain, chills and rash. (Idph, 2016). The rash can appear on the legs or arms, soles of the feet, palms of hands and spread rapidly to the rest of the body. Although most patients get a rash there are times in which a rash does not appear at all. There is no specific diagnostic test for this disease that is why it is so hard to diagnose. One test for RMSF includes a biopsy of the skin rash. Routine blood tests may be performed, …show more content…

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