title: Queensland tick typhus: three cases with unusual clinical features.
abstract: Queensland tick typhus (QTT), caused by Rickettsia australis, is usually a relatively mild illness but can occasionally be severe. We describe three cases of probable QTT with unusual clinical features, namely splenic infarction, fulminant myopericarditis and severe leukocytoclastic vasculitis. QTT may present with uncommon clinical features in addition to the more common manifestations. A high index of suspicion enables specific antibiotic therapy that may hasten recovery.
authors.affiliation: Calvary Mater Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. paul.wilson@calvarymater.org.au
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tierney
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Graves
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D014438:Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Rickettsia; infarction; myocarditis; splenic; typhus; vasculitis