Rickettsial meningoencephalitis in a child--a case report.
Severe central nervous system involvement has been reported in adults with Rickettsia conorii infection but rarely in children. We report here a serologically documented case of meningoencephalitis in a child caused by spotted group R. conorii. Rickettsial infection is a relatively under-diagnosed entity in children with fever and rash, probably due to low index of suspicion and the lack of definitive diagnostic facilities. Rickettsial infections can be treated effectively with anti-microbials; if they remain undiagnosed and untreated, they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. This differential diagnosis should be considered when a child is seen with fever and rash.
Tikare
Nitin V
NV
Department of Pediatrics, Dr Bidari's Ashwini Institute of Child Health and Research Centre, Bijapur - 586103, Karnataka, India. nitintikare@rediffmail.com
Shahapur
Praveen R
PR
Bidari
Laxman H
LH
Mantur
Basappa G
BG
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001907:Boutonneuse Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D020114:Rickettsia conorii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D004318:Doxycycline