Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Japanese spotted fever: A report of three cases
Background: Japanese Spotted Fever (JSF) is a Spotted Fever Group (SFG) rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia japonica. More than 300 cases are diagnosed annually in Japan, and the number of reported cases has been increasing. Correct diagnoses depend on the triad of symptoms and signs, including fever...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023106700 |
| _version_ | 1797337036323028992 |
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| author | Rie Sato Noriaki Yamada Nobuhiro Kodani Tetsuya Makiishi Yoshiaki Iwashita |
| author_facet | Rie Sato Noriaki Yamada Nobuhiro Kodani Tetsuya Makiishi Yoshiaki Iwashita |
| author_sort | Rie Sato |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Japanese Spotted Fever (JSF) is a Spotted Fever Group (SFG) rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia japonica. More than 300 cases are diagnosed annually in Japan, and the number of reported cases has been increasing. Correct diagnoses depend on the triad of symptoms and signs, including fever, rash, and eschar, which can be seen at the site of vector bites. JSF is not life-threatening if treated appropriately without diagnostic delay but there are some fatal cases every year. This negligence leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ failure (MOF), and poor prognoses, consequently. Prompt diagnosis of JSF is difficult when the aforementioned triad of signs and symptoms is not initially present. Case report: This report describes three JSF cases: an 87-year-old woman with fever, shock, pancytopenia, DIC, and MOF; a 79-year-old man with fever and difficulty in movement; and a 78-year-old man with fever, general fatigue, and appetite loss. All patients had a rash and eschar, which led to prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment immediately. All patients were treated without any complications. Why should an emergency physician be aware of this?: As mentioned above, JFS can be fatal with delayed diagnoses and treatment initiations. The key for a prompt diagnosis is to recognize the triad of symptoms and signs, which are not often present initially, and it makes JSF diagnosis challenging. Repeated comprehensive physical examinations are essential for prompt diagnosis and improve prognosis of JSF. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:03:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-76e509dbbad5405f96adae333205305f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:03:34Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-76e509dbbad5405f96adae333205305f2024-02-01T06:31:58ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-01-01101e23462Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Japanese spotted fever: A report of three casesRie Sato0Noriaki Yamada1Nobuhiro Kodani2Tetsuya Makiishi3Yoshiaki Iwashita4Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Shimane, Japan; Corresponding author. Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, 89-1, Enya-cho, Izumo, Shimane, 693-8501, Japan.Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Shimane, JapanDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Shimane, JapanDepartment of General Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Shimane, JapanDepartment of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Shimane, JapanBackground: Japanese Spotted Fever (JSF) is a Spotted Fever Group (SFG) rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia japonica. More than 300 cases are diagnosed annually in Japan, and the number of reported cases has been increasing. Correct diagnoses depend on the triad of symptoms and signs, including fever, rash, and eschar, which can be seen at the site of vector bites. JSF is not life-threatening if treated appropriately without diagnostic delay but there are some fatal cases every year. This negligence leads to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ failure (MOF), and poor prognoses, consequently. Prompt diagnosis of JSF is difficult when the aforementioned triad of signs and symptoms is not initially present. Case report: This report describes three JSF cases: an 87-year-old woman with fever, shock, pancytopenia, DIC, and MOF; a 79-year-old man with fever and difficulty in movement; and a 78-year-old man with fever, general fatigue, and appetite loss. All patients had a rash and eschar, which led to prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment immediately. All patients were treated without any complications. Why should an emergency physician be aware of this?: As mentioned above, JFS can be fatal with delayed diagnoses and treatment initiations. The key for a prompt diagnosis is to recognize the triad of symptoms and signs, which are not often present initially, and it makes JSF diagnosis challenging. Repeated comprehensive physical examinations are essential for prompt diagnosis and improve prognosis of JSF.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023106700Case reportJapanese spotted fever (JSF)Rickettsia japonicaRepeated comprehensive physical examinationsTetracycline |
| spellingShingle | Rie Sato Noriaki Yamada Nobuhiro Kodani Tetsuya Makiishi Yoshiaki Iwashita Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Japanese spotted fever: A report of three cases Heliyon Case report Japanese spotted fever (JSF) Rickettsia japonica Repeated comprehensive physical examinations Tetracycline |
| title | Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Japanese spotted fever: A report of three cases |
| title_full | Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Japanese spotted fever: A report of three cases |
| title_fullStr | Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Japanese spotted fever: A report of three cases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Japanese spotted fever: A report of three cases |
| title_short | Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of Japanese spotted fever: A report of three cases |
| title_sort | prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment of japanese spotted fever a report of three cases |
| topic | Case report Japanese spotted fever (JSF) Rickettsia japonica Repeated comprehensive physical examinations Tetracycline |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023106700 |
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