Internist
Volume 58, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 287-292

A Somali refugee with fever and abnormal blood smear [Somalischer Flüchtling mit Fieber und auffälligem Blutausstrich] (Article)

Jochum J.* , Tannich E. , Tappe D. , Schmiedel S.
  • a I. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Sektion Infektiologie und Tropenmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany
  • b Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin, Nationales Referenzzentrum für Tropische Infektionserreger, Hamburg, Germany
  • c Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin, Nationales Referenzzentrum für Tropische Infektionserreger, Hamburg, Germany
  • d I. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Sektion Infektiologie und Tropenmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Hamburg, 20246, Germany

Abstract

The increasing migration into Europe may confront clinicians with diseases barely known any more in this part of the world. We present a case of louse-borne relapsing fever in a Somali refugee. Blood smears led to the diagnosis of relapsing fever and DNA sequencing was positive for Borrelia recurrentis. This disease should be considered in all patients with unclear fever and a compatible travel or migration history. Blood smears are employed as the primary diagnostic method. Therapy harbors the danger of a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, a complication that may require intensive medical care. © 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Author Keywords

Ceftriaxone Borrelia recurrentis Doxycycline Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction Relapsing fever, louse-borne

Index Keywords

genetics Somali (people) DNA sequence louse refugee Europe pyrexia idiopathica human Relapsing Fever Borrelia recurrentis Refugees travel Borrelia Herxheimer reaction blood smear nonhuman Humans Fever of Unknown Origin case report Borrelia infection Article DNA blood migration Somalia microbiology
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84994474523&doi=10.1007%2fs00108-016-0154-3&partnerID=40&md5=a797499946dc52fdb251b66b8072b964
DOI: 10.1007/s00108-016-0154-3
ISSN: 00209554
Cited by: 3
Original Language: German