A Case of Rat Bite Fever Arthritis.
10.4078/jkra.2007.14.3.285
- Author:
Gil Soon CHOI
1
;
Joon Koo KANG
;
Kyoung Woo SOE
;
Han Jung PARK
;
Hyoun Ah KIM
;
Hae Sim PARK
;
Chang Hee SUH
Author Information
1. Department of Allergy-Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea. chsuh@ajou.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Rat bite fever;
Arthritis
- MeSH:
Animals;
Arthritis*;
Early Diagnosis;
Elbow;
Exanthema;
Fever;
Hand;
Humans;
Knee;
Moniliformis;
Mortality;
Rat-Bite Fever*;
Rats*;
Rodentia;
Shoulder;
Spirillum;
Streptobacillus;
Wrist
- From:The Journal of the Korean Rheumatism Association
2007;14(3):285-290
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Rat bite fever is a rare, systemic illness caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis or Spirillum minus following a rat or other rodent bite. Characteristically, fever develops abruptly with maculopapular skin rash after an incubation period of two to ten days, and asymmetric migrating polyarthritis starts later in up to 50% of patients. The arthritis involves the knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists and hands, which may either be suppurative or non-suppurative. Although most cases seem to resolve spontaneously within two weeks, the mortality in untreated cases is around 10~15%. The response to antibiotic treatment is good and early diagnosis is the most important prognostic factor. We report a patient who developed arthritis with fever after biting by rat.
