infectious diseases
Relapsing Fever
Diagnosis of Relapsing Fever
Darkfield or brightfield microscopy The diagnosis of relapsing fever is suggested by recurrent fever and confirmed by visualization of spirochetes in the blood during a febrile episode. The spirochetes may be seen on darkfield or brightfield examination or Wright- or Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood smears. (Acridine orange stain for examining blood or tissue is more sensitive than Wright or Giemsa stain.) Serologic tests are unreliable. Serologic tests for syphilis and Lyme disease may be falsely positive. B. miyamotoican also be diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Mild polymorphonuclear leukocytosis and thrombocythemia may occur. includes Diagnosis , ( Diagnosis reference ). 1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Tick-borne relapsing fever: Information for clinicians. Accessed 9/22/2022. 