Rickettsia conorii infection with fatal complication

Abstract

Rickettsial diseases (RD) are a group of endotheliotropic infectious diseases caused by different species of genera Rickettsia. RD are not an uncommon disease and may be misdiagnosed during the evaluation of acute febrile illness due to a lack of reliable serological marker and diagnostic culture methods. Clinical manifestation of RD varies from febrile illness with rashes and myalgia to fatal complications such as shock and respiratory failure. We describe a case of a young male who presented initially with acute febrile illness, followed by shock and respiratory failure, and unfortunately succumbed to death. A post-mortem examination showed histological features of endotheliotropic infection, such as interstitial / perivascular edema in various organs and noncardiogenic pulmonary edema (suggesting increased vascular permeability) and evidence of vasculitis in the lung, liver, and intestines. Molecular studies performed from lung, liver, and kidney tissue confirm the diagnosis of spotted fever group rickettsial disease due to Rickettsia conorii.

Indian Tick Typhus Presenting as Gangrene: a Case Report

“…3 However, ITT is reported rarely in northern states of India. [4][5][6][7][8] Cutaneous manifestations of ITT usually include eschar and purpura fulminans. Gangrene in ITT is restricted to a few case reports.…”

“…Hence ITT should be kept as a differential in cases of acute febrile illness presenting with features of endothelial damage and/or vasculitis, and early initiation of doxycycline will help save many lives as well as reduce morbidity. [3][4][5][6][7][8]…”