Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of relapsing fever. Family history What is the general health of your relatives? Social history What is your profession? Have you been abroad recently? If yes, where? How were the hygienic conditions there? Current anamnesis/systemic anamnesis (somatic and psychological complaints). What symptoms have … Relapsing Fever: Medical History
Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99). Brucellosis – infectious disease caused by various types of the genus Brucella. Dengue fever – infectious disease caused by dengue virus. Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease) – bacterial infectious disease caused by leptospires. Malaria – infectious disease caused by plasmodia (parasitic protozoa), which occurs mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Rickettsioses – … Relapsing Fever: Or something else? Differential Diagnosis
The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by relapsing fever: Respiratory system (J00-J99) Bronchopneumonia (progressive form of pneumonia/pneumonia in which inflammation involves focal areas surrounding bronchi). Eyes and eye appendages (H00-H59). Iritis (raindrop dermatitis). Iridocyclitis – inflammation of the iris (iris) and ciliary body. Blood-forming organs – immune … Relapsing Fever: Complications
A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; further: Inspection (viewing). Skin, mucous membranes, and sclerae (white part of the eye) [jaundice (jaundice); exanthema (rash): usually petechial (pinpoint skin bleeding)] Auscultation (listening) of the heart. Auscultation of … Relapsing Fever: Examination
1st order laboratory parameters – obligatory laboratory tests. Pathogen detection – blood smear, dark-field microscopy, thick droplet [spirochetes?]* ; culture (difficult). * Suspected diagnosis should be confirmed at a reference center for Borrelia by PCR (polymerase chain reaction). The pathogen detection of Borrelia recurrentis (spirochetes) in connection with an acute infection is reportable by name … Relapsing Fever: Test and Diagnosis
Therapy goals Elimination of the pathogens Avoidance of complications Therapy recommendations Antibiosis (antibiotic therapy; first-line agent: doxycycline (tetracycline)). Further notes Aphid relapse fever: on the first day of antibiotic therapy, often mild to moderate Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (fever and chills, therapy-induced, due to bacterial decay). Then volume administration and, if necessary, additional short-term catecholamine therapy.
Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics, and obligatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification. Abdominal ultrasonography (ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs) – for basic diagnostics. Electrocardiogram (ECG; recording of the electrical activity of the heart muscle). Echocardiography (echo; heart ultrasound) – for … Relapsing Fever: Diagnostic Tests
To prevent relapsing fever, attention must be paid to reducing risk factors. Behavioral risk factors Lice relapsing fever: poor hygienic conditions (poor housing, clothing and personal hygiene), especially in war and disaster situations. Tick relapse fever: stay in tick habitats. Prophylactic measures Aphid control: improve living conditions; control aphids by insecticide decontamination: Wash clothes at … Relapsing Fever: Prevention
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate relapsing fever: Leading symptoms High fever (- 40 °C) for 3-6 days, followed by a fever-free interval of approximately seven days; then a renewed bout of fever (2-3 days); usually followed by several bouts of fever in succession, becoming progressively weaker each time. Chills Cephalgia (headache) Myalgia (muscle … Relapsing Fever: Symptoms, Complaints, Signs
Pathogenesis (disease development) Relapsing fever is an infectious disease caused by pathogens of the genus Borrelia. The following species can be distinguished: Borrelia recurrentis – causative agent of European relapsing fever, epidemic relapsing fever (lice relapsing fever; A68.0). Borrelia duttonii, Borrelia hispanica, Borrelia latyschewii, Borrelia persica, Borrelia mazottii, etc. – causative agent of tick-borne relapsing … Relapsing Fever: Causes
