Murine Typhus Presenting as Hemorrhagic Vesicles and Dyspnea: A case report.
- Author:
Sin Chul KIM
1
;
Myoung Chun KIM
;
Young Gwan KO
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. edkmc@cholian.net
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Murine typhus;
Rickettsia typhi;
Hemorrhagic vesicles;
Dyspnea
- MeSH:
Animals;
Cytoplasm;
Dyspnea*;
Emergency Service, Hospital;
Endothelial Cells;
Exanthema;
Feces;
Fever;
Headache;
Humans;
Myalgia;
Rats;
Rickettsia;
Rickettsia typhi;
Siphonaptera;
Skin;
Typhus, Endemic Flea-Borne*;
Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne;
Zoonoses
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
2002;13(3):369-372
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Murine (endemic) typhus is a zoonotic infection caused by Rickettsia typhi (formerly known as Rickettsia mooseri). Rickettsia typhi is an obligate intracellular organism that multiplies within the cytoplasm of mainly endothelial cells. It is transmitted from rats by injection of contaminated flea feces into the skin of the host. The disease manifests itself with the gradual onset of fever, myalgia, and headache appearing 7-14 days after infection. A maculopapular rash is found in some patients (proportions ranging from 20 to 80% in different series). We report a rare case of murine typhus with presentation of hemorrhagic vesicles and dyspnea which was treated at our emergency department, and we give a brief review of the literature.
