title: An increase in human cases of spotted fever rickettsiosis in Yucatan, Mexico, involving children.
abstract: The first human case of infection caused by Rickettsia in Yucatan was detected in 1996, and it was determined that the species was R. felis. Since then, passive epidemiologic surveillance was implemented to search for human cases in the public hospitals of the state, and in 2005, the first human case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever was detected. During the following 2 years, eight new confirmed cases and one probable case were identified. Seven cases involved children younger than 12 years of age, with a fatal outcome in three of the cases. Children are a particularly vulnerable population for this serious emerging infection.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Unidad Interinstitucional de Investigación Clínica y Epidemiológica, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida Yucatán, Mexico. zcastro@uady.mx
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zavala-Castro
authors.forename: Karla R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Dzul-Rosado
authors.forename: Juan José Arias
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: León
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Jorge E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zavala-Velázquez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D004318:Doxycycline