Haverhill fever

In rat-bite fever transmitted by the gram-negative rod Streptobacillus moniliformis, symptoms begin to appear two to ten days after a rat bite injury. The illness resembles a severe influenza, with a moderate fever (101-104° F), chills, joint pain, and a diffuse red rash, located mostly on the hands and feet. The causative organism can be isolated by blood culture, and penicillin is the most common treatment. Treatment is usually quite successful, although the body can clear the infection by itself in most cases. Complications are rare, but can include endocarditis and meningitis.

This form of rat-bite fever is known by the alternate names Haverhill Fever and epidemic arthritic erythema.

Despite its name, it can present without being bitten by a rat. .