print   Print full article

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of Rickettsial diseases vary depending on which specific type of bacteria caused the infection. Insect exposure is always required to transmit the disease, however often sufferers do not remember being bitten. In some cases there may be dark dead skin around the site of the initial bite called an eschar. Usually an infected person will have fever, chills and muscle aches in the beginning of the illness. Often a rash consisting of small red spots appears after a few days of being unwell. A small proportion of infected people develop more severe symptoms such as cough, difficulty breathing or decrease in consciousness. The specific signs and symptoms of the common types of Rickettsial infections found in Australia are described below.

  • Flinders Island spotted fever and Australian spotted fever have been documented in the southern coast of Australia, Flinders Island and Tasmania. The illness occurs several days after a tick-bite, although often sufferers do not remember being bitten. Symptoms and signs include long periods of fever with chills, muscle aches and a widespread rash involving the palms and soles. In some cases pneumonia and confusion also occur.
  • Queensland tick typhus occurs in the eastern coast of Australia from the tropical north Queensland down to the southern coast of Victoria. The disease is spread by a tick. Usually it is a mild illness. Common symptoms include headache, fever and rash. An eschar and swollen glands may occur near the site of bite and a rash may develop.
  • Scrub typhus can occur in tropical northern Australia as well as East Asia and is spread by a small mite-like insect called a chigger. The most common symptoms are fever, headache, cough, rash and swollen glands. Without treatment, the disease can result in deafness, coma and death.
  • Murine typhus occurs worldwide as well as in tropical northern Australia. It is spread by exposure to rodent fleas. The most common symptoms are fever, cough and rash. A small proportion of patients will develop a severe form of the disease which may result in coma, lung failure or kidney failure.

Last Review Date: August 8, 2017