Licona-Enríquez JD, Delgado-de la Mora J, Álvarez-Hernández G

Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 320-322
PDF size: 457.22 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Background: Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a disease spread by an infected tick and it is lethal if patient is not treated on time. Symptom similarities with other exanthematous diseases may delay the diagnosis, which leads to its mortality.
Clinical case: We show the lethal case of a patient with medical record of high blood pressure and no history of travel, who lived in Sonora, Mexico. At the beginning, it was suspected that the patient had a dengue virus infection, which was confirmed positive by an ELISA test. Patient’s rapid deterioration, multiorganic failure and the characteristics of her exanthema led to the suspicion of the presence of RMSF. We started doxycycline treatment; however, patient died after seven days of evolution. It was confirmed a co-infection of Rickettssia spp. and dengue virus.
Conclusion: In rickettsial endemic zones, treatment with doxycycline should be employed in patients with similar symptoms, even though there is evidence of the presence of other etiologic agents.

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