IMPORTED RICKETTSIOSES - THINK OF MURINE TYPHUS

Murine typhus is a disease still prevalent in many parts of the world. Because the incidence in the US and Europe has declined rapidly, phys icians in these continents have become unfamiliar with the clinical pi cture. Murine typhus is associated with significant morbidity and fata lities do occur, especially in the elderly and when late recognized. W e present a patient with murine typhus that illustrates the wide varie ty of symptoms in this disease, which makes diagnosis difficult. Howev er, if one keeps the possibility of murine typhus in mind, it is easil y diagnosed and treated.