The following symptoms and complaints may indicate relapsing fever:
Leading symptoms
- High fever (- 40 °C) for 3-6 days, followed by a fever-free interval of approximately seven days; then a renewed bout of fever (2-3 days); usually followed by several bouts of fever in succession, becoming progressively weaker each time.
- Chills
- Cephalgia (headache)
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
- Arthralgia (joint pain)
Associated symptoms
- Icterus (jaundice)
- Exanthem (skin rash) – usually petechial (pinpoint bleeding of the skin).
- Neurological symptoms, unspecified
- Hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the liver and spleen), with clinical signs of hepatocellular injury
Clinical distinction between the two forms of relapsing fever is not possible. However, tick-borne relapsing fever is usually more severe and lasts longer.
