infections
Rat Bite Fever
Symptoms of Rat Bite Fever
Both types of rat-bite fever cause many of the same symptoms, but there are some differences. In streptobacillary rat-bite fever, the rat bite, if present, usually heals quickly. Within a day to about 3 weeks after the bite heals, symptoms develop abruptly. They include chills, fever, vomiting, headache, and back and joint pains. A few days later, a rash of small flat, red bumps usually appears on the hands and feet. Without treatment, joint pains and Infectious Arthritis (infection in the fluid and tissues of a joint) may last for several days or months. Fever may come and go for weeks to months. Haverhill fever causes similar symptoms, but vomiting is more severe, and the throat may be sore. may infect the heart, causing Infective Endocarditis . Abscesses may form in the brain or other tissues. These problems and infectious arthritis are rare but serious. In spirillary rat-bite fever, the bite site usually heals quickly. However, a few days to about 4 weeks later the bite becomes red and swollen (inflamed), and a fever develops, then comes and goes. Lymph nodes are swollen. A rash sometimes develops, but it is less pronounced than the streptobacillary rash. Joints rarely become painful. Without treatment, fevers typically come and go for up to 8 weeks. 