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The following text is from an archived Red Book® edition and may not reflect current recommendations or information. To view the current edition, click here.

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Section 3. Summaries of Infectious Diseases

Rickettsial Diseases

Rickettsial diseases traditionally comprise infections caused by organisms of the genera Rickettsia (endemic and epidemic typhus and spotted fever group rickettsioses), Orientia (scrub typhus), Coxiella (Q fever), Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma (ehrlichiosis).

Clinical Manifestations
Etiology
Epidemiology
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Other Rickettsial Spotted Fever Infections

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CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS: Rickettsial infections have many features in common, including the following:

  • Fever, rash (especially in spotted fever and typhus group rickettsiae), headache, myalgias, and respiratory tract symptoms are prominent features.

  • Local primary eschars occur with some rickettsial diseases, particularly spotted fever group rickettsiae.

  • Systemic capillary and small vessel endothelial damage is the primary pathologic feature of spotted fever and typhus group rickettsial infections.

  • Rickettsial diseases can become life threatening rapidly.

Immunity against reinfection by the same agent after natural infection usually is of long duration, except in the case of scrub typhus caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Among the 4 groups of rickettsial diseases, some cross-immunity usually is conferred by infections within groups but not among groups. Reinfection with Ehrlichia and Anaplasma species has been described.


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ETIOLOGY: The rickettsia causing human disease include: . . . [Go to Full Text]


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