There is no clinical evidence of pulmonary or other visceral involvement. The disease with which rickettsialpox is most frequently confused is chickenpox. Chickenpox, however, is generally a childhood disease, whereas rickettsialpox most commonly occurs in adults. The eschar at the site of the primary lesion of rickettsialpox has no counterpart in chickenpox. As in all rickettsioses, therapy with a tetracycline or with chloramphenicol is effective.
Prevention involves elimination of house mice and their mites.