2007, Number 4
Murine typhus in Oaxaca after hurricane Wilma
García GJ, Garciadiego FP, Mendoza AR, Espinosa AL, Moreno SF, Rábago AJ
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 14
Page: 198-205
PDF size: 123.57 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Through out history Murine typhus had been an infectious disease traditionally associated with environmental factors that cause a disruption between fauna and flora. We present a clinical case where a 61 year old man was diagnosed with Murine typhus when he went to Oaxaca 3 weeks after hurricane Wilma where he got fever symptoms. Rickettsiae are bacteria, obligate intracellular gram-negative coccobacillary forms. Murine (endemic) typhus is caused by Rickettsia typhi which primarily is transmitted by the rat flea, Xeonpsylla cheopis. There is no direct transmission person to person. Is typically an illness with an incubation period from 8 to 16 days, with nonspecific symptoms followed by fever, headache, chills, rash and nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. Although the majority of patients experience mild illness, complications can occur in severe cases. The diagnosis is usually based upon the typical clinical findings, exposure history, laboratory findings and serology. The drug of choice is doxycycline in adults, nonpregnant woman and children. Chloramphenicol is the drug of choice in pregnant women. Widespread outbreaks of infectious disease after a natural disaster is seen more frequently in developing countries. The natural disasters, particulary hurricanes and floods, increase the incidence of vector- borne disease. The vectors control efforts at the time of disaster can be very expensive and is not priority; and should be based in the disease and vectors knowledge of the specific area. If there is an outbreak, is essential to know if the disease already exists in the disaster zone.REFERENCES