Relapsing fever is a vector-borne disease caused by infection with certain bacteria in the genus Borrelia, which is transmitted through the bites of lice or ...RelapsingfeverFromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopediaJumptonavigationJumptosearchMedicalconditionRelapsingfeverSpecialtyInfectiousdisease Relapsingfeverisavector-bornediseasecausedbyinfectionwithcertainbacteriainthegenusBorrelia,[1]whichistransmittedthroughthebitesofliceorsoft-bodiedticks(genusOrnithodoros).[2]Contents1Signsandsymptoms2Causes2.1Louse-bornerelapsingfever2.2Tick-bornerelapsingfever3Diagnosis4Treatment5Research6History7Seealso8References9ExternallinksSignsandsymptoms[edit]Mostpeoplewhoareinfecteddevelopsicknessbetween5and15daysaftertheyarebitten.Thesymptomsmayincludeasuddenfever,chills,headaches,muscleorjointaches,andnausea.Arashmayalsooccur.Thesesymptomsusuallycontinuefor2to9days,thendisappear.Thiscyclemaycontinueforseveralweeksifthepersonisnottreated.[3]Causes[edit]Louse-bornerelapsingfever[edit]AlongwithRickettsiaprowazekiiandBartonellaquintana,Borreliarecurrentisisoneofthreepathogensofwhichthebodylouse(Pediculushumanushumanus)isavector.[4]Louse-bornerelapsingfeverismoreseverethanthetick-bornevariety.[citationneeded]Louse-bornerelapsingfeveroccursinepidemicsamidpoorlivingconditions,famineandwarinthedevelopingworld.[5]ItiscurrentlyprevalentinEthiopiaandSudan.Mortalityrateis1%withtreatmentand30–70%withouttreatment.Poorprognosticsignsincludeseverejaundice,severechangeinmentalstatus,severebleedingandaprolongedQTintervalonECG.[citationneeded]LicethatfeedoninfectedhumansacquiretheBorreliaorganismsthatthenmultiplyinthegutofthelouse.Whenaninfectedlousefeedsonanuninfectedhuman,theorganismgainsaccesswhenthevictimcrushesthelouseorscratchestheareawherethelouseisfeeding.B.recurrentisinfectsthepersonviamucousmembranesandtheninvadesthebloodstream.Nonon-human,animalreservoirexists.Tick-bornerelapsingfever[edit]Tick-bornerelapsingfeverisfoundprimarilyinAfrica,Spain,SaudiArabia,Asia,andcertainareasofCanadaandthewest