Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Symptoms of Relapsing fever

The disease starts 7 to 10 days after infection, with a sharp rise of fever, up to 40ºC. There is shivering, headache, aches and pains, vomiting and sensitivity to light.

The fever and symptoms continue for 3 to 6 days. The illness then gets worse for a short time, during which collapse and death may occur. If the patient survives, everything then settles to normal.

Between 7 and 10 days later, the whole cycle is repeated. In louse-borne relapsing fever there is usually only one relapse, but in the tick-borne disease there may be several recurrences, each being shorter and milder than the previous one.

Each episode ends because antibodies clear the spirochetes from the blood. Each recurrence indicates that a new strain has appeared on which the previously produced antibodies have no effect.

• RabiesRadiationRadiotherapyRaynaud's phenomenonRectal examinationRed blood countReiter's syndromeRelapsing feverRenin testRepetitive strain injuryRespiratory distress syndromeRespiratory tract infectionRespite careRestless leg syndromeRestricted growthRetinal detachmentReye's syndromeRhesus factor diseaseRheumatic feverRheumatoid arthritisRhinitisRicketsRingwormRisks and benefits of treatmentRoot canal treatmentRosaceaRoundwormRubella

  ---