infections
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF)
Diagnosis of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
A doctor's evaluation Biopsy and testing of the rash Blood tests Doctors suspect Rocky Mountain spotted fever if people do both of the following: Live in or near a wooded area anywhere in the Western Hemisphere Have a fever, headache, and muscle aches in the spring, summer, or fall, regardless of whether they have a rash or a tick bite Although the disease is always transmitted by ticks, many people do not remember being bitten by a tick. Testing is usually required to confirm Rocky Mountain spotted fever. However, available tests may not detect the bacteria right away or take a long time to process. Thus, if doctors suspect Rocky Mountain spotted fever, they typically start treatment before they get test results. To confirm the Diagnosis , doctors usually do an in the antibody level. Thus, these tests do not help doctors diagnose the infection immediately after someone becomes ill but can help confirm the diagnosis later. In addition, doctors use the Testing to enable them to detect the bacteria more rapidly. 