Original source (on modern site)
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a potentially deadly bacterial disease spread through the bite of an infected tick. RMSF is spread by the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) in parts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. Symptoms of RMSF include fever, headache, and rash. The rash usually appears about 2-4 days after onset of symptoms, however, some patients never develop a rash. The disease can rapidly progress and be deadly if not treated early with the recommended antibiotic. Children younger than 10 years old are five times more likely than adults to die from RMSF. Doxycycline is the recommended antibiotic treatment for RMSF in adults and children of all ages.