| South African tick-bite fever | A typhus-like fever of South Africa caused by Rickettsia rickettsii and usually characterised by primary eschar and regional adenitis, rigors, and maculopapular rash on the fifth day, often with severe central nervous system symptoms. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| spirillum fever | An acute infection characterised by recurrent episodes of pyrexia alternating with asymptomatic intervals of apparent recovery. This condition has worldwide distribution and is caused by spirochetes of the genus borrelia. (12 Dec 1998) |
| splenic fever | Known also as anthrax, splenic fever is a serious bacterial infection. It is not primarily a human disease but rather an infection of animals. Cattle, sheep, horses, mules, and some wild animals are highly susceptible. Humans (and swine) are generally resistant to anthrax. Anthrax can take different forms. With the lung form of the disease. People inhale the anthrax spores and, if untreated, are likely to die. An intestinal form is caused by eating meat contaminated with anthrax. But most human anthrax comes from skin contact with animal products. Cutaneous (skin) anthrax was once well known among people who handled infected animals, like farmers, more than woolsorters, tanners, brushmakers and carpetmakers in the days when the brushes and carpets were animal products. The hallmark of skin anthrax is a carbuncle, a cluster of boils, that ulcerates in an ugly way. Typically, this lesion has a hard black centre surrounded by bright red inflammation. This accounts for its name, anthrax , the greek word for coal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| spotted fever | <infectious disease> An acute febrile (feverish) disease initially recognised in the Rocky Mountain states, caused by Rickettsia rickettsii transmitted by hard-shelled (ixodid) ticks. Occurs only in the Western Hemisphere. The disease is characterised by sudden onset of headache, chills and fever which can persist for 2-3 weeks, muscle pain. A characteristic rash appears on the extremities and trunk about the 4th day of illness. The rickettsiae grow within damaged cells lining blood vessels which may become blocked by clots. Blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) is widespread Early recognition of the condition and prompt antibiotic treatment is important in reducing mortality. Synonym: spotted fever, tick fever, and tick typhus. (25 Jun 1999) |
| nanukayami fever | A form of leptospirosis known in Japan and caused by a leptospira normally found in the field mouse or vole. Synonym: nanukayami. (05 Mar 2000) |
| steroid fever | Fever presumably caused by elevated plasma concentrations of certain pyrogenic steroids; can be produced by administration of etiocholanolone. (05 Mar 2000) |
| nine mile fever | <infectious disease> An acute (abrupt-onset), self-limited febrile illness first reported in 1935 in Queensland, Australia. The Q is said not to be for Queensland, but for query since the cause of the disease was long a query (question mark). It is caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, a rickettsia which mainly afflicts sheep and cattle but can be transmitted to humans who have contact with infected animals. Symptoms resemble those of influenza and include sudden onset of fever, headache, malaise, and pneumonia (interstitial pneumonitis) but no rash. (12 Dec 1998) |
| nodal fever | <dermatology> A disorder characterised by the formation of tender, red nodules on the front of the legs. Erythema nodosum primarily affects women and has been associated with certain infections: coccidiomycosis, fungal infections, tuberculosis, hepatitis B and syphilis. A sensitivity to a particular drug (for example penicillin, progestin, birth control pills) may also manifest this disorder. Other disorders and conditions that have been associated with erythema nodosum include: leukaemia, sarcoidosis, rheumatic fever, ulcerative colitis and pregnancy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| North Queensland tick fever | A mild form of tick-borne typhus with eschar, adenopathy, rash, and fever, caused by Rickettsia australis and thought to be transmitted by the tick, Ixodes holocyclus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dandy fever | Tropical disease caused by a flavivirus (one of the arboviruses), transmitted by mosquitoes. A more serious complication is dengue shock syndrome, a haemorrhagic fever probably caused by an immune complex hypersensitivity after re exposure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| date fever | Tropical disease caused by a flavivirus (one of the arboviruses), transmitted by mosquitoes. A more serious complication is dengue shock syndrome, a haemorrhagic fever probably caused by an immune complex hypersensitivity after re exposure. (18 Nov 1997) |
| deer-fly fever | <infectious disease, microbiology> A rare infection of rabbits and rodents caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. Francisella tularensis is found in many animals (rabbits, rodents) and may be transmitted by direct contact or via insect bite (ticks and deer-fly). Humans can also contract the illness via the direct contact with the infected animal carcass (break in the skin). The illness is characterised by an ulcerative lesion at the site of the inoculation with regional lymph node swelling, pneumonia, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains and joint stiffness. Risk factors include an exposure to rabbits or recent tick bite. A vaccine is available for high risk workers. Treatment is with streptomycin or tetracycline. Tularaemia is fatal in 5% of untreated cases and in less than 1% of treated cases. Incidence: less than 200 cases per year (USA). Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (18 Jul 2002) |
| dehydration fever | An elevation of temperature in infants after reduction of fluid intake, diarrhoea, or vomiting; probably caused by reduced available body water, with reduced heat loss by evaporation; an analogous condition in adults is seen when exertion is continued in the face of dehydration. Synonym: dehydration fever, exsiccation fever, inanition fever. (05 Mar 2000) |
| swamp fever | <veterinary> virology> Viral disease of horses caused by the equine infectious anaemia virus (eiav; infectious anaemia virus, equine). It is characterised by intermittent fever, weakness, and anaemia. Chronic infection consists of acute episodes with remissions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| swamp fever virus | <virology> A retrovirus, of the Lentivirinae subfamily, and the cause of equine infectious anaemia. Synonym: swamp fever virus. (05 Mar 2000) |