Imported relapsing fever in European tourists.
Two 'imported' cases of relapsing fever after a trip through Senegal are described. Two women developed a tick-borne relapsing fever after having slept outdoors on a terrace in Zinguichor, Senegal. The first patient was rapidly cured after a course of doxycycline. The second patient initially received erythromycin, but despite this treatment she developed neurological symptoms and Borrelia persisted in the thick-smear examination. After treatment with doxycycline she developed a Jarish-Herxheimer reaction. Treatment with doxycycline was continued and finally all symptoms disappeared within 36 hours after starting this treatment. A diagnosis of relapsing fever should be considered in all patients returning from the tropics with recurrent fever, especially if no malaria parasites are found.
Colebunders
R
R
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.
De Serrano
P
P
Van Gompel
A
A
Wynants
H
H
Blot
K
K
Van den Enden
E
E
Van den Ende
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium; D001898:Borrelia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012061:Relapsing Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012675:Senegal; D014195:Travel
D004318:Doxycycline