Mountain tick fever; Mountain fever; American mountain fever

Symptoms of Colorado tick fever start 3 to 6 days after getting the tick bite. A sudden fever continues for 3 days, goes away, then comes back 1 to 3 days later for another few days. Other symptoms include:

• Generalized weakness
• Headache behind the eyes
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Rash (may be light-colored)
• Sensitivity to light ( photophobia)
• Skin pain
• Sweating

Tests are done to confirm the infection. These may include:

• Complement fixation antibody test
• Immunofluorescence antibody test

Other blood tests may include:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Creatine kinase
• Liver function tests

Images

Antibodies

Ticks

Deer ticks

Tick imbedded in the skin

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Colorado tick fever Overview

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Colorado tick fever Treatment

Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin 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)