engleski

Mediterranean spotted fever in North Dalmatia: is there a problem?

Aim To analyze clinical and therapeutic characteristics of Mediterranean spotted lever (MSP) in North Dalmatia. Methods and patients. Prospective analysis of clinical and therapeutic characteristics in 93 patients hospitalized with MSF at Zadar General Hospital during the 1988-2000 period. Results The most frequently found signs of the disease were high fever (91 ; 97.84%), maculopapular rash (89: 95.69%), headaches (84 ; 90.32%), arthralgia (75 ; 80.64%), exhastion (75 ; 80.64%) and nausea (65 ; 69.89%) Tache noire, as a pathognomic sign of MSF was found in 22 (23.65%) patients.The most fre¬quently indicated diagnoses were febris cum exanthemate (43 ; 46.23), rickettsiosis suspecta (21 ; 22, 58%) and exanthema maculopapulosum (15 ; 16.12%). Early therapeutic efficiency was achieved by doxycycline in 34 (79.04%), and by ciprofloxacine in 10 (71.42%.) treated adult patients, and by azithromycin in 7 (77.77%) children. Conclusion. The identification of MSF endemic rickcttsiosis in North Dalmatia, serious clinical forms of the disease and the success of early and adequate antirickettsial antibiotic therapy are a dear warning that our physicians must he very familiar with this disease and include this rickettsial disease in differential diagnosis of acute febrile diseases accompanied by rash.

Mediterranean spotted fever, clinical features, treatment effectiveness

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