title: Study on 40 cases of rickettsia.
abstract: Rickettsia is emerging in the subcontinent and clinically presents as non-specific febrile illness. At present there is no cheap & easily available diagnostic tool in our hand. Beside this, Weil-Felix test is becoming abandoned. So, high index of clinical suspicions is essential to diagnose rickettsia at early stage and to prevent mortality & morbidity. 40 cases were recorded among the admitted febrile patients in MMCH since 2003 to 2005. Cases were selected by clinical suspicions; exclusions of other common febrile illness & thereafter supported by lab. Investigations, specially by positive Weil-felix test. Cases were distributed through out the year but 19 (47.5%) cases were detected in March to May. 12 (30%) cases were found in August to October. The remaining 9 cases were detected in the rest 6 months. All (40) cases were presented with fever (100%), headache was present in 33 (82.5%) cases, rashes were present in 15 (37.5%) cases, isolated splenomegaly was found in 15 (37.5%) cases & hepatosplenomegaly in 12 (30%) cases, arthralgia in 13 (32.5%) cases, lymphadenopathy in 5 (12.5%) cases; 2 (5%) cases attended with unconsciousness & epistaxis in 1 (2.25%) case. Scrub typhus were 19 (47.5%), Indian tick typhus 16 (40%), 5 (12.5%) cases were with dual pathology and were associated with enteric fever. 15 (37.5%) cases were treated with tetracycline only. 20 (50%) cases with only doxyclycline & 5 (12.5%) cases with tetracycline and ceftriaxone as these cases were associated with enteric fever. All patients (100%) cured with treatment.
authors.affiliation: Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital, Mymensingh.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Miah
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahman
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sarker
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Barman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001459:Bangladesh; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D013752:Tetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D013752:Tetracycline; D004318:Doxycycline