Rickettsial infections history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
History and Symptoms
Clinical presentations of rickettsial illnesses vary, but common early symptoms, including fever, headache, and malaise, are generally nonspecific. Illnesses resulting from infection with rickettsial agents may go unrecognized or are attributed to other causes. Atypical presentations are common and may be expected with poorly characterized nonindigenous agents, so appropriate samples for examination by specialized reference laboratories should be obtained. A diagnosis of rickettsial diseases is based on two or more of the following: 1) clinical symptoms and an epidemiologic history compatible with a rickettsial disease, 2) the development of specific convalescent-phase antibodies reactive with a given pathogen or antigenic group, 3) a positive polymerase chain reaction test result, 4) specific immunohistologic detection of rickettsial agent, or 5) isolation of a rickettsial agent. Ascertaining the likely place and the nature of potential exposures is particularly helpful for accurate diagnostic testing.
References
http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh4-Rickettsial.aspx