Septic shock caused by rocky mountain spotted fever in a suburban Texas patient with pet dog exposure: A case report

Courtney Hatcher, Brian Karahalios, Manjulatha Badam

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is associated with high mortality and requires prompt identification and treatment to ensure better outcomes. CASE REPORT We describe an advanced case of RMSF in a 45-year-old female patient with pet dog exposure who presented with altered mental status, dyspnea, and ataxia progressing to septic shock and acute hypoxic respiratory failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS This case illustrates the importance of keeping RMSF in the differential diagnosis in patient populations outside of the usual geographic areas of incidence in the appropriate clinical setting.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number909636
Pages (from-to)917-919
Number of pages3
JournalAmerican Journal of Case Reports
Volume19
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 4 2018

Keywords

  • Dermacentor
  • Rhipicephalus sanguineus
  • Rocky mountain spotted fever
  • Tick-borne diseases
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Suburban Population
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever/complications
  • Shock, Septic/microbiology
  • Animals
  • Texas
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Disease Vectors
  • Pets/microbiology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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