Case Report: Fatal Rickettsiosis in Pregnancy

Eduardo Ponce Nájera Hospital Regional Materno Infantil del Estado de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico;
Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud Tecnológico de Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico;

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Valeria Lozano Lazcano Hospital Regional Materno Infantil del Estado de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico;
Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud Tecnológico de Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico;

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César Ploneda González Hospital Metropolitano “Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda’’ del Estado de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico

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Marcela Montoya Hinojosa Hospital Regional Materno Infantil del Estado de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico;

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Diego González Oropeza Hospital Regional Materno Infantil del Estado de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico;
Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud Tecnológico de Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico;

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ABSTRACT.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne infection caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. We present a series of two cases of pregnant patients who showed up at the emergency room of a hospital in Nuevo León, Mexico. Both patients lived in environments where R. rickettsii is endemic and they presented with several days of symptoms, including fever. Both patients developed a rash and had stillbirths during their hospital stay. Treatment with doxycycline was delayed, with fatal results in both patients. Diagnosis of RMSF was confirmed via polymerase chain reaction assay postmortem. The need to link epidemiological clues with clinical data is critical in the diagnosis and early treatment of RMSF to prevent maternal deaths.

Author Notes

Authors’ addresses: Eduardo Ponce Nájera, Valeria Lozano Lazcano, Marcela Montoya Hinojosa, and Diego González Oropeza, Hospital Regional Materno Infantil del Estado de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico, E-mails: eponcenajera@gmail.com, vrlozanol95@gmail.com, marcemontoya.1499@gmail.com, and diego.oropeza@saludnl.gob.mx. César Ploneda González, Hospital Metropolitano “Dr. Bernardo Sepúlveda’’ del Estado de Nuevo León, Nuevo León, Mexico, E-mail: cesar.ploneda@saludnl.gob.mx.

Address correspondence to Diego González Oropeza, Avenida San Rafael No. 450, Colonia San Rafael, Guadalupe, N.L., C.P. 67140, Mexico. E-mail: diego.oropeza@saludnl.gob.mx
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