Presentation
Methods: We present the case of a 47yo man who presented with a two-day history of severe back pain, “band-like” sensation around the umbilicus, numbness extending to the feet bilaterally, urinary hesitancy, and progressive gait disturbance. [neurology.org]
Conjunctival congestion-present, SP02 of 86% in room air and 96% with 4litres oxygen by face mask. [pubs.sciepub.com]
Age Sex Clinical presentation Laboratory findings Complications Travel history Sample Rickettsia spp. [doi.org]
CONCLUSION: The results show a high prevalence of antibodies to Rickettsia belonging to the spotted fever group in each of the three study areas, in addition to presenting evidence of the typhus group Rickettsia in El Valle de Anton. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The PCR may be negative for rickettsia if there are no bacteria present in the sample tested or if the bacteria are present in very low (undetectable) numbers. [labtestsonline.org.au]
Entire Body System
- Fever
A spotted fever group rickettsial disease such as Queensland tick typhus, Flinders Island spotted fever, or another undescribed rickettsiosis could explain these findings. [doi.org]
[…] unique diseases that have been identified collectively as Rocky Mountain spotted fever during the past century. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
fever due to R. rickettsii (Rocky Mountain spotted fever). [apps.who.int]
Japanese spotted fever, and Astrakhan fever. [cmr.asm.org]
- High Fever
Systemic disease typically consists of high fever, headache and skin rash, with or without «tache noire» (dark spot). [omicsonline.org]
Case Report 24 year old male was admitted in downtown hospital with history of high grade fever associated with chill, headache, yellowish discoloration of urine, rash in abdomen and chest of 3weeks duration. [pubs.sciepub.com]
Symptoms vary slightly by the type of typhus, but there are symptoms that are associated with all three types of typhus, such as: headache fever chills rash Symptoms of epidemic typhus usually appear suddenly and include: severe headache high fever (above [healthline.com]
High-risk areas for acquiring the infection include bamboo plantations, crop fields, and coastal hills and forests. Japanese spotted fever has an abrupt onset with headache, high fever (39 to 40°C), and chills. [cmr.asm.org]
- Malaise
After an asymptomatic incubation of 5 to 7 days, the onset of the disease is abrupt and typical cases present with high fever, headache, general malaise and skin rash (Figure 1a). [omicsonline.org]
Therapy with doxycycline (100 mg twice a day for 7 days) typically leads to rapid improvement; however, a subset of patients may experience a prolonged convalescence characterized by arthralgia and malaise. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Following a incubation period ranging from 2-28days, disease is heralded by sudden onset of highgrade fever with chills and rigors, malaise headache, dry cough, body pains, conjunctival congestion and vomiting. [pubs.sciepub.com]
Photo/CDC Case Report - from MMWR weekly (May 21, 2004) In Oklahoma a female child, age seven had a fever of 102.7�C, malaise, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, the emergency department initially diagnosed her with Viral gastroenteritis. [web.uconn.edu]
R. parkeri rickettsiosis and RMSF are each characterized by fever, myalgia, malaise, headache, and a maculopapular eruption that may involve the palms or soles, and both diseases occur ∼1 week after a tick bite [ 21 ]. [doi.org]
- Lymphadenopathy
In the ER: Alert, GCS- 15/15 Hemodynamically stable Good perfusion No bleeds Inguinal lymphadenopathy Ascites, hepatomegaly Rest of systems: within normal limits 4. [slideshare.net]
They were hospitalized with fever (in two patients), asthenia (in three patients), anorexia (in three patients), nausea (in three patients), headache (in three patients), eschar (in three patients) (Fig. 2 in the Supplementary Appendix ), and lymphadenopathy [nejm.org]
Patients often have multiple, characteristic inoculation eschars, or so-called “taches noir” [ 3 ]; lymphangitis; and regional lymphadenopathy [ 6 ]. [academic.oup.com]
Two patients were shown to have lymphangitis and regional lymphadenopathy. [cmr.asm.org]
- Falling
Abortions Alcohol Assisted insemination Asthma and hay fever Bites, burns, cuts and pests Blood, organ and tissue Cancer Challenging behaviour Chemicals and contaminants Diabetes Dementia Dental care Drugs End of life care Essure contraceptive device Falls [sahealth.sa.gov.au]
Cases occur throughout the year, with peak prevalence from April through June in Texas and during the warm months of summer and early fall elsewhere. [14, 16] Tsutsugamushi disease (ie, scrub typhus) This is extremely rare outside the southwest Pacific [emedicine.com]
Cardiovascular
- Hypotension
Increased vascular permeability edema, blood volume, hypoalbuminemia, osmotic pressure, hypotension DIC rare. 17. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Topograghy: Rural south and southeast Asia. [slideshare.net]
[…] fever chills rash Symptoms of epidemic typhus usually appear suddenly and include: severe headache high fever (above 102.2°F) rash that begins on the back or chest and spreads confusion stupor and seeming out of touch with reality low blood pressure (hypotension [healthline.com]
The most important pathophysiologic effect is increased vascular permeability with consequent edema, loss of blood volume, hypoalbuminemia, decreased osmotic pressure, and hypotension. [textbookofbacteriology.net]
You can help by adding to it. ( August 2013 ) Rickettsial organisms are obligate intracellular parasites and invade vascular endothelial cells in target organs, damaging them and producing increased vascular permeability with consequent oedema, hypotension [en.wikipedia.org]
Relevant clinical features included myalgias (80%), headache (66%), icterus (52%), exanthema (47%), consciousness impairment (43%), vomiting (42%), abdominal pain (38%), respiratory distress (37.5%), acute renal insufficiency (35.3%), and hypotension [cmr.asm.org]
Musculoskeletal
- Arthralgia
Seven days later he returned with worsening symptoms of fever (39.9°C), headache, cough, arthralgia, and lethargy. A provisional diagnosis of scrub typhus was made, and he was given doxycycline. [doi.org]
Therapy with doxycycline (100 mg twice a day for 7 days) typically leads to rapid improvement; however, a subset of patients may experience a prolonged convalescence characterized by arthralgia and malaise. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
It occurred in a 40-year-old man living in suburban area in southeast Virginia who presented with fever, headache, diffuse myalgias and arthralgias, and multiple eschars on his lower extremities. [cmr.asm.org]
- Back Pain
Methods: We present the case of a 47yo man who presented with a two-day history of severe back pain, “band-like” sensation around the umbilicus, numbness extending to the feet bilaterally, urinary hesitancy, and progressive gait disturbance. [neurology.org]
Skin
- Eruptions
Several days after an eschar appears, the following can develop: Fever Headache Rash (sparse maculopapular or papulovesicular eruptions on the trunk and extremities) Muscle aches NOTE: R. parkeri rickettsiosis can be difficult to distinguish from RMSF [cdc.gov]
The antimicrobial therapy was continued when the skin eruption appeared, and the fever and skin eruption disappeared within a week. [academic.oup.com]
Cutaneous eruptions in Indian tick typhus. Int J Dermatol. In article [7] Current medical diagnosis and treatment-2015. Chapter 32-rickettsial disease. [pubs.sciepub.com]
The rash of R. parkeri rickettsiosis, as seen on patients 4 (E) and 5 (F), is a maculopapular or papulovesicular eruption on the trunk and extremities, occasionally involving the palms and soles. [doi.org]
The rash is a diffuse macular (featuring elevated discoloration) rash, is most prominent on wrists and ankles, which will usually erupt three or four days after the onset of fever. [web.uconn.edu]
- Petechiae
These lesions are 0.5–1.5 cm wide, with a central area of ulcerated or scabbed skin surrounded by a halo of erythema ( A and B ) or petechiae (C). Panel D shows multiple eschars on patient 4. [doi.org]
These lesions may progress to become maculopapular, owing to the leakage of edema fluid from the affected blood vessels, with the development of a hemorrhage (petechia) in the center of the lesions. Figure 2. [textbookofbacteriology.net]
Conjunctival petechiae, subconjunctival hemorrhages, keratitis, nongranulomatous anterior uveitis, and iris nodule have also been described in association with rickettsial infection [ 8, 11, 12 ]. [omicsonline.org]
Hemorrhagic manifestations, including petechiae and suffusions, were frequent (69.5%). The case fatality rate was 30% (R. N. Angerami, M. R. Resende, S. B. Stuchi Raquel, G. Katz, E. Nascimento, and L. J. Silva, Abstr. 4th Int. Conf. [cmr.asm.org]
- Skin Rash
Systemic disease typically consists of high fever, headache and skin rash, with or without «tache noire» (dark spot). [omicsonline.org]
The organism proliferate in small blood vessels of skin,, lungs, brain, kidneys, heart, skeletal muscle causing vasculitis responsible for skin rash, microvascular leakage, edema, tissue hypoperfusion and end-organ ischemic injury. [pubs.sciepub.com]
Tick bite fever was a far milder disease than MSF and was not associated with skin rash. Thus, Pijper considered tick bite fever to be a distinct disease. [cmr.asm.org]
- Papule
These lesions were pink, nonpruritic macules and papules, 0.2–0.5 cm in greatest dimension, and some contained a small central vesicle or pustule. The estimated number of these lesions had a range between ∼15 and several hundred. [doi.org]
Israeli spotted fever appears as a typical spotted fever, but the eschar at the inoculation site is absent in >90% of cases and resembles a small pinkish papule rather than a real eschar ( 130 ). [cmr.asm.org]
Neurologic
- Headache
Seven days later he returned with worsening symptoms of fever (39.9°C), headache, cough, arthralgia, and lethargy. A provisional diagnosis of scrub typhus was made, and he was given doxycycline. [doi.org]
R. parkeri rickettsiosis and RMSF have similar signs and symptoms, including fever, headache, and rash, but also typically include the appearance of an inoculation eschar (seen at right) at the site of tick attachment. [cdc.gov]
Characteristics include a sudden onset with headache and chills and fever lasting about two to three weeks. A cutaneous rash commonly appears on the extremities and trunk about the fourth day of illness. [fpnotebook.com]
- Confusion
Less common severe infections can be associated with confusion and breathing difficulties. Diagnosis Given that these infections are not common and usually mild they can be difficult to diagnose. [sahealth.sa.gov.au]
[…] symptoms that are associated with all three types of typhus, such as: headache fever chills rash Symptoms of epidemic typhus usually appear suddenly and include: severe headache high fever (above 102.2°F) rash that begins on the back or chest and spreads confusion [healthline.com]
He presented with acute bilateral visual loss associated with confusion, loss of hearing and tinnitus. A bilateral chorioretinis was diagnosed. An empiric doxycycline plus ofloxacin treatment was started and he recovered. [plosntds.org]
Workup
Serum
- Leukopenia
General Laboratory Findings Mildly elevated hepatic transaminases Mild leukopenia Mild thrombocytopenia, less common CONFIRMATION OF THE DIAGNOSIS IS BASED ON LABORATORY TESTING, BUT ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY SHOULD NOT BE DELAYED IN A PATIENT WITH A SUGGESTIVE [cdc.gov]
Initial bloodwork indicated mild leukopenia (leukocyte count 1.7 × 10 9 /L) and transaminitis (aspartate aminotransferase level 67 U/L, alanine aminotransferase level 97 U/L). Malaria films were negative. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Mild thrombocytopenia (median platelet count, 145×10 6 platelets/L; range, 122–149×10 6 platelets/L) and leukopenia (median WBC count, 3.4×10 6 cells/L; range, 3.2–4.4×10 6 cells/L) were identified in 4 and 5, respectively, of 10 patients. [doi.org]
Common nonspecific laboratory abnormalities in rickettsioses include mild leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Hyponatremia, hypoalbuminemia, and hepatic and renal abnormalities may also occur ( 276 ). [cmr.asm.org]
Microbiology
- Rickettsia Rickettsii
[…] fever; mountain, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, koorts; Sao Paulo, mountain; fever, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, rickettsii; Rickettsia rickettsii, spotted fever, rickettsiose; Rickettsia rickettsii, spotted fever; Rickettsia rickettsii, spotted fever [fpnotebook.com]
In all members of the healthy control group, Rickettsia rickettsii was negative and had the appearance of the negative control. Rickettsia typhi was negative for all patients and members of the control group. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
R. rickettsii is the only Rickettsia species that utilizes ABM. [web.uconn.edu]
- Rickettsia Conorii
"Proposal to create subspecies of Rickettsia conorii based on multi-locus sequence typing and an emended description of Rickettsia conorii". BMC Microbiol. 5 : 11. doi : 10.1186/1471-2180-5-11. PMC 1079849. PMID 15766388. [en.wikipedia.org]
Until recently, it was thought that Mediterranean spotted fever due to Rickettsia conorii was the only tick-borne rickettsiosis in Europe. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Immunofluorescence assay on an acute serum sample for spotted fever group rickettsial antigens ( Rickettsia conorii conorii, R. sibirica mongolitimonae, Rickettsia felis ) and typhus group rickettsiae ( Rickettsia typhi ) was negative. [jidc.org]
Bacellar F, Beati L, Franca A, Pocas J, Regnery R, Filipe A (1999) Israeli spotted fever rickettsia (Rickettsia conorii complex) associated with human disease in Portugal. Emerg Infect Dis 5: 835–836 PubMed Google Scholar 2. [link.springer.com]
Treatment
Culture pos: culture positive skin biopsies, Culture neg: culture negative skin biopsies; No treatment: skin biopsies obtained from patients without treatment, Treatment: skin biopsies obtained from patients receiving a treatment; Marseille: skin biopsies [doi.org]
We evaluated culture sensitivity compared to PCR based on sampling delay and previous antibiotic treatment. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Treatment Treatment is usually with the tetracycline antibiotic doxycycline which reduces the duration and severity of infection. Prevention Exclusion of people with rickettsial infections from childcare, preschool, school and work is not necessary. [sahealth.sa.gov.au]
Following 10-day course of doxycycline treatment, the patients displayed a significant clinical improvement. [journals.lww.com]
Doxycycline has been used in the treatment of rickettsial infection. [en.wikipedia.org]
Prognosis
Identification of specific etiology is important for appropriate treatment in order to optimize prognosis. [neurology.org]
Prognosis Although prognosis of systemic infection is good in most cases, rickettsioses may be severe and potentially lethal, and should be treated accordingly [ 1 ]. [omicsonline.org]
Moreover, the recognition of typhus group rickettsiosis is clinically and epidemiologically relevant, as these infections may be associated with a worse prognosis than spotted fevers ( Dumler et al., 1991 ; Bechah et al., 2008). [doi.org]
Etiology
Identification of specific etiology is important for appropriate treatment in order to optimize prognosis. [neurology.org]
We also assess the pathogenic potential of rickettsial strains that to date have been associated only with arthropods, and we discuss diseases of unknown etiology that may be rickettsioses. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Epidemiology
During 1998-2007, clinical samples from 12 patients with illnesses epidemiologically and clinically compatible with R. parkeri rickettsiosis were submitted for diagnostic evaluation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Here, we summarize the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with confirmed or probable R. parkeri rickettsiosis, comment on the clinical differences between this disease and RMSF, and discuss the epidemiological importance of these [doi.org]
Epidemiology of murine typhus. Annu Rev Entomol 1990;35:553-69. Karpathy SE, Hayes EK, Williams AM, et al. Detection of Rickettsia felis and Rickettsia typhi in areas of California endemic for murine typhus. Clin Microbiol Infect. In press 2009. [imic.or.jp]
Pathophysiology
The effects of the rickettsial damage to the pulmonary microcirculation are an important component of the pathophysiology of severe Rocky Mountain spotted fever. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Transmitted to humans by the larval form of trombiculid mites (ie, chiggers) that live and breed in the soil and scrub vegetation. Both the reservoir & vector passes O tsutsugamushi transovarially. Chigger- 1/500 th inch. [slideshare.net]
The most important pathophysiologic effect is increased vascular permeability with consequent edema, loss of blood volume, hypoalbuminemia, decreased osmotic pressure, and hypotension. [textbookofbacteriology.net]
Peach phony RLO Papaya Bunchy Top Disease [17] Infection occurs in nonhuman mammals; for example, species of Rickettsia have been found to afflict the South American guanaco, Lama guanacoe. [18] Pathophysiology [ edit ] This section needs expansion. [en.wikipedia.org]
Prevention
Prevention Exclusion of people with rickettsial infections from childcare, preschool, school and work is not necessary. There is no vaccine available to prevent infection. [sahealth.sa.gov.au]
2 minute read Prevention With the exception of epidemic typhus, no vaccine exists to prevent rickettsial infection. [science.jrank.org]
Clinical specimens from patients in the United States who reside within the range of A. maculatum for whom an eschar or vesicular rash was described were evaluated by > or =1 laboratory assays at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
During World War II, a vaccine was created to prevent epidemic typhus. However, the shrinking number of cases has stopped the manufacture of the vaccine. The easiest way to prevent typhus is by avoiding the pests that spread it. [healthline.com]
References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [cdc.gov]