Relapsing fever

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Tick-borne relapsing fever, Louse-borne relapsing fever

Treatment involves antibiotics, most often tetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, or penicillin.

The death rate for untreated LBRF ranges from 10 - 70%. In TBRF, it is 4 -10%. With early treatment, the death rate is reduced. Those who have developed coma, myocarditis, liver problems, or pneumonia are more likely to die.

• Coma
• Facial droop
• Liver dysfunction
• Meningitis
• Myocarditis -- may lead to arrhythmias
• Pneumonia
• Seizures
• Shock related to taking antibiotics (Jarisch - Herxheimer's reaction, in which the rapid death of very large numbers of Borrelia organisms induces shock)
• Weakness
• Widespread bleeding

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Notify your medical provider if you are a returning traveler and you develop fever -- there are many different possible infections that will need to be investigated in a timely manner.

Review Date: 12/10/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).