Definition:
Rat-bite fever in an infectious disease where in a bite from a rat transfers a bacteria or fungi infection. The symptoms of the fever will depend on the organism which caused the infection.
Diagnosis:
Detection of the organism in the blood, skin, joint fluid or lymph nodes are the common diagnosis for the fever. Other diagnostic method is the blood antibody tests.
Treatment:
The antibiotic that is used to cure the rat-bite fever is penicillin in cases that the patient is allergic to it erythromycin or tetracyclines are used correspondingly spirillary infections and streptobacillary.
Symptoms and Signs:
Chills
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches
Arthritis
Rash
Open sore in bitten site
Causes:
There are two-types of gram-negative facultatively anaerobic bacteria that causes the rat-bite fever which are spirillosis and streptobacillosis.
