Fatal Brazilian spotless fever caused by Rickettsia rickettsii in a dark-skinned patient

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Alexsandra Rodrigues de Mendonça Favacho, Tatiana Rozental, Simone Berger Calic, Maria Aparecida Mota Scofield, Elba Regina Sampaio de Lemos
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2011
• Subjects: Febre maculosa brasileira sem exantema; Paciente negro; PCR; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822011000300028; https://doaj.org/article/588e95957e3d4667b671ede9aad7b76e

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.