Rocky Mountain spotted fever: a warm weather problem.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever occurs primarily in the warm weather months of April through September in the southeastern and south central United States. It is transmitted by the bite of ticks infected with the etiologic Rickettsia. This article reviews the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and therapy of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Emphasis is placed on the dilemmas of early diagnosis and the necessity of early and often empirical antibiotic treatment of suspected cases.