Article
Fatal Brazilian spotless fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii in a dark-skinned patient
Febre maculosa brasileira sem exantema causada por Rickettsia rickettsii em um paciente de cor negra
Registro en:
FAVACHO, Alexsandra Rodrigues de Mendonça; et al. Fatal Brazilian spotless fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii in a dark-skinned patient . Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, v.44, n.3, p.395-396, mai-jun, 2011.
0037-8682
1678-9849
Autor
Favacho, Alexsandra Rodrigues de Mendonça
Rozental, Tatiana
Calic, Simone Berger
Scofield, Maria Aparecida Mota
Lemos, Elba Regina Sampaio de
Resumen
Brazilian spotted fever (BSF) is the most important and frequent rickettsial disease in Brazil. A fatal case of BSF is reported in a 32-year-old black man, who died of irreversible shock after five days of fever, severe headache and abdominal pain with no rash. Spleen, kidney and heart samples collected at autopsy were positive for Rickettsia rickettsii by PCR and sequencing. The authors emphasize the need for a high index of diagnostic suspicion for spotted fever in black patients. Absence of a skin rash should not dissuade clinicians from considering the possibility of BSF and initiating empirical therapy.