Rickettsialpox

Definition

Rickettsialpox is a relatively mild disease caused by a member of the bacterial family called Rickettsia. Rick-ettsialpox causes rash, fever, chills, heavy sweating, headache, eye pain (especially when exposed to light), weakness, and achy muscles.

Description

Like other members of the family of Rickettsia, the bacteria causing rickettsialpox live in mice. Tiny mites feed on these infected mice, thus acquiring the organism. When these mites feed on humans, the bacteria can be transmitted.

Rickettsialpox occurs mostly within cities. In the United States, the disease has cropped up in such places as New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. It has also been identified in Russia, Korea, and Africa.

— Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD

(medicine) An acute febrile disease caused by the organism Rickettsia akari and transmitted from the mouse to humans by the mite Allodermanyssus sanguineus; characterized by rash, a primary ulcer, and often swelling of glands.

An acute nonfatal disease caused by Rickettsia akari and transmitted by mites; it is characterized by a papule in the skin and symptoms that develop about a week after the appearance of the papule, consisting of fever, chills, headache, backache, sweating, and local adenitis. Also called Kew garden fever.