What Is Microbiology - Relapsing Fever

​Relapsing Fever

Relapsing fever may present with episodes of fever lasting for a week which resolve for a week and recur again. Relapsing episodes of fever may occur for 1- 4 times. 

The relapsing fever may present with myalgia, headache,chills, hepatomegaly ( liver enlargement) and splenomegaly ( enlargement of spleen)

The common organisms related to relapsing fever are Borrelia hermsii ( transmitted via ticks bite) and Borrelia reccurentis ( transmitted via human body louse) which are spirochetes with  the release of endotoxin into the blood.

Peripheral blood microscopic examination with Giemsa stain may reveal the present of Borrelia hermsii and Borrelia reccurentis.

The antigenic variation of the outer membrane protein of the spirochete in the spleen and liver will lead to the recurrent episodes of the fever.

The antibiotic requires for relapsing fever may include erythromycin and tetracycline.