Linked Life Data

20233665

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/20233665

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
2010-10-11
pubmed:abstractText
African tick-bite fever (ATBF) is a newly described spotted fever rickettsiosis that frequently presents with multiple eschars in travelers returning from sub-Saharan Africa and, to a lesser extent, from the West Indies. It is caused by the bite of an infected Amblyomma tick, whose hunting habits explain the typical presence of multiple inoculation skin lesions and the occurrence of clustered cases. The etiological agent of ATBF is Rickettsia africae, an emerging tick-borne pathogenic bacterium. We describe herein a cluster of five cases of ATBF occurring in Swiss travelers returning from South Africa. The co-incidental infections in these five patients and the presence of multiple inoculation eschars, two features pathognomonic of this rickettsial disease, suggested the diagnosis of ATBF. Indeed, the presence of at least one inoculation eschar is observed in 53-100% of cases and multiple eschars in 21-54%. Two patients presented regional lymphadenitis and one a mild local lymphangitis. Though a cutaneous rash is described in 15-46% of cases, no rash was observed in our series. ATBF was confirmed by serology. Thus, ATBF has recently emerged as one of the most important causes of flu-like illness in travelers returning from Southern Africa. The presence of one or multiple eschars of inoculation is an important clinical clue to the diagnosis. It can be confirmed by serology or by PCR of a biopsy of the eschar. Culture can also be done in reference laboratories. Dermatologists and primary care physicians should know this clinical entity, since an inexpensive and efficient treatment is available.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
1878-3511
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright © 2010 International Society for Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
14 Suppl 3
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
e274-6
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2010
pubmed:articleTitle
African tick-bite fever: a new entity in the differential diagnosis of multiple eschars in travelers. Description of five cases imported from South Africa to Switzerland.
pubmed:affiliation
Travel clinic, Department of Ambulatory Care and Community Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Case Reports, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't