Rat-Bite Fever (Sodoku): Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Acutely Ill Patient

These cases underscore the importance of 1) including RBF in the differential diagnoses of acutely ill patients with reported rat exposures and 2) preventing zoonotic infections among persons with occupational or recreational exposure to rats. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Wound Infection

Adherence to simple precautions while handling rats can reduce the risk for RBF and other potential rodent-borne zoonotic infections, wound infections, and injuries. [cdc.gov]
Fulminant Sepsis

These case reports demonstrate that infection with S. moniliformis can cause fulminant sepsis and death in previously healthy adults. [cdc.gov]

Labored Breathing

Before her transport to the ED, she exhibited anxiety, confusion, and labored breathing. ED staff noted that she appeared jaundiced. The body was transported to the coroner's office, where an autopsy was performed. [cdc.gov]
Aspiration

Blood cultures in 11 of 17 cases and joint fluid aspirate cultures in 2 of 2 cases demonstrated an organism subsequently named Haverhillia multiformis, with characteristics identical to S. moniliformis. [doi.org]
Sore Throat

In a description of four cases from this outbreak ( 74 ), the clinical features were described as abrupt onset of fever with headache, peripheral erythematous rash, polyarthralgias, and subsequent sore throat. [doi.org]

Rectal Pain

Rectal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms are less severe or are absent. Penicillin is the most common treatment. The streptobacillosis form of rat-bite fever is known by the alternative names Haverhill fever and epidemic arthritic erythema. [en.wikipedia.org]
Abdominal Tenderness

On physical examination, she was afebrile and hypotensive (blood pressure: 82/40 mmHg) with left-sided abdominal tenderness and scleral icterus; no rash was noted. [cdc.gov]

Vascular Disease

Noninfectious causes include collagen vascular diseases and drug reactions. Sodoku. Infection caused by rat bites in Asia is likely to be caused by Spirillum minus and is designated sodoku ( so, rat; doku, poison). [doi.org]

Maculopapular Rash

Symptomatic patients often present with fever, malaise, cough, maculopapular rash, and occasional arthritis, and usually have a history of rodent exposure. This report describes a patient with rat-bite fever resulting in suppurative arthritis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

rash on the extremities. rat-bite fever (răt′bīt′) n. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]

An abrupt onset of fever, myalgias, arthralgias, vomiting, and headache typically occurs within 2--10 days of exposure and is usually followed by a maculopapular rash on the extremities ( 1 ). [cdc.gov]
Rash of the Hands and Feet

It begins with the fever and progresses to the rash on the hands and feet within 2 to 4 days. Rash appears all over the body with this form, but rarely causes joint pain. [en.wikipedia.org]

Back Pain

It is important to consider performing the MRI to differentiate vertebral osteomyelitis from simple back pain to determine the appropriate duration of antibiotic therapy. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

There may be back pain, and a spotty, measles-like skin rash. Sodoku, or spirillar rat-bite fever, is caused by Spirillum minus. The original bite heals promptly, but within 5 to 28 days the site becomes swollen and takes on a dusky, purplish hue. [medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com]
Leg Pain

Two days before his death, the patient experienced rigors, fevers, vomiting, headaches, and leg pains. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

Neglect

Prevalence studies using selective enrichment mechanisms may also enable the isolation of novel strains and candidate species of this neglected group of microorganisms. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Lethargy

In early September 2003, a previously healthy woman aged 52 years visited an emergency department (ED) with a 2-day history of headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, lethargy, right axillary lymphadenopathy, progressive myalgias, and pain in her distal extremities [cdc.gov]

Symptoma