Relapsing Fever

Relapsing Fever, acute infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia and transmitted by the bite of ticks of the genus Ornithodoros and of body lice. The course of the disease is characterized by an incubation period of 3 to 18 days; onset of the acute stage begins with a chill followed by fever accompanied by headache, pains in the muscles and in the abdomen, and vomiting. The attack ends suddenly three to six days later, and the patient, although weak, is apparently recovering. After several more days, however, the acute stage recurs and lasts for three or four days. The patient then usually recovers, but in some cases one or more further recurrences may ensue; further relapses are most common in tick-borne relapsing fever.

Relapsing fever generally occurs in areas where poor nutrition and unhygienic conditions are prevalent; in times of famine the incidence of the disease may reach epidemic proportions. Treatment includes complete bed rest, a fluid diet, and tetracycline or chloramphenicol, usually taken orally.