North Queensland tick typhus

Etiology

Rickettsia australis

Epidemiology

• endemic in Australia
• transmitted by ticks

Clinical manifestations

• maculopapular skin eruption (rarely vesicular & petechial)
• eschar at site of tick bite
• eruption on proximal extremities, spreading to face & trunk
• headaches
• myalgias
• regional adenopathy

Management

see Rocky Mountain spotted fever

More general terms

• rickettsial spotted fever; tick typhus

Additional terms

• eschar
• Rickettsia australis