Rickettsiosis: The importance of making an early diagnosis and early management

Abstract

Rickettsia is a bacteria transmitted by vectors such as ticks, lice, mites. The human being is an accidental host, the rickettsia is transmitted to the human being through the saliva of the infected tick inoculating the bacteria to the skin. There are different species of Rickettsia, the most important species in America is Rickettsia rickettsii.

This disease is characterized by damage to the endothelium of small caliber blood vessels, causing lesions mainly at lung, brain, and kidney. Its initial clinical manifestations are nonspecific and can be confused with other diseases, which is why a detailed clinical history is what can lead us to an early diagnostic.

This disease is considered a reemerging disease despite its wide knowledge due to its poor diagnostic suspicion and prevention. In Panama, the first cases were diagnosed in the 1950s and this year 2021 two cases were diagnosed in children at the Children’s Hospitals Dr. José Renan Esquivel.