infections
Relapsing Fever
Introduction
Relapsing fever is an infection caused by certainBorreliaspecies, which are spiral-shaped bacteria called spirochetes (see figure). People are infected when they are bitten by an infected tick or come in contact with an infected louse. People have sudden chills followed by a high fever, severe headache, vomiting, muscle and joint pain, and sometimes a rash. Symptoms disappear, then return (relapse) several times. Identifying the bacteria in a sample of blood confirms the diagnosis. Antibiotics are usually effective. (See also Overview of Bacteria .) causes Lyme Disease . Relapsing fever is transmitted by soft-bodied ticks, hard-bodied ticks, and body lice. can also been transmitted during a Overview of Blood Transfusion . 