An acute infectious disease that is caused by a microorganism (Rickettsia rickettsii) transmitted by ticks, is characterized by muscular pains, high fever, and skin eruptions, and is endemic throughout North America. Typhus-like disease first seen in the Rocky Mountain region, caused by the bacterium Rickettsia rickettsii (see rickettsia) and transmitted by various ticks. In severe cases the rash bleeds more and is especially prominent on the wrists and ankles. Central nervous system involvement causes restlessness, insomnia, and delirium. Prostration may progress to coma, with death possible in a week or more. Mortality increases with age. Recovery is slow but usually complete as visual disturbances, deafness, and mental confusion pass. Prompt antibiotic treatment hastens it and reduces mortality. Prevention depends on avoiding tick bites, by wearing long, light-coloured clothing and insect repellent and inspecting for ticks. A vaccine reduces the risk of infection somewhat and of death greatly
{i} blue disease, severe and infectious disease (highly fatal) caused by Rickettsia and is generally spread by the bite of an infected ixodid tick (its symptoms are: frontal and occipital headache, extreme lumbar pain, general discomfort, moderately high continuous fever, rash on the palms, wrists, ankles and soles that starst from the second to the fifth day and later on spreads to all parts of the body)