[Rickettsia africae infection among participants in a women's safari to South Africa].

Drorit Atias*, Eyal Meltzer, Eyal Leshem, Eli Schwartz

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

PREFACE: In recent years infections with Rickettsia africae (African tick bite fever) have become a common and important cause of febrile illness among travelers returning from Sub-Saharan Africa, primarily from South Africa. A prospective observational study, involving 671 participants in safaris to South Africa during 2008. Nine participants (1.34%) were diagnosed with African tick bite fever. The symptoms included fever, headache, muscle pain, lymphadenopathy, vesicular rash, and an eschar. Lack of familiarity with the disease led to an incorrect diagnosis and delayed treatment with doxycycline in a number of cases. African tick bite fever is frequent among Israeli travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa. Travelers should be counseled on tick bite prevention. Increased awareness of the disease among Israeli physicians may prevent diagnostic delays.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)572-575, 620
JournalHarefuah
Volume149
Issue number9
StatePublished - Sep 2010

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