title: Brazilian spotted fever: the importance of dermatological signs for early diagnosis.
abstract: Brazilian spotted fever is an acute febrile infectious disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, transmitted by tick bite. As this disease is rare and has high mortality rates in Brazil, the clinical aspects and epidemiological data may help the diagnosis. We report a case of Brazilian spotted fever in a 19-year-old patient who presented maculopapular exanthema in the palmar region and upper limbs, lymphadenopathy, fever, chills, headache, conjunctival hyperemia, nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, myalgia, developing neurological signs and abdominal pain. He was treated with doxycycline with clinical improvement. We emphasize the importance of the recognition of this disease by dermatologists as cutaneous manifestations are the key findings to establish early diagnosis and prevent complications.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daíne Vargas
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Couto
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Zanolli
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hans Filho
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Moretti de
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Hospital São Julião, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Blanco
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carolina Faria Santos
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Vicari
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012284:Rickettsia rickettsii; D012373:Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004318:Doxycycline
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