Mediterranean spotted fever in children returning from France
T. L. Treadwell, S. D. Phillips and W. J. Jablonski
Department of Medicine, Framingham Union Hospital, MA 01701.
Although the incidence of Mediterranean spotted fever has increased
dramatically in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, the disease is only
rarely seen in travelers. We describe two children who had traveled in
southern France and subsequently had rash and lymphadenopathy develop. Both
children were treated with doxycycline and had unequivocal serologic
evidence of Mediterranean spotted fever develop. Although this disease is
usually mild, in the absence of a tick bite the disease can easily be
confused with other febrile exanthems. We describe these patients to
reemphasize the influence that international travel has brought to
pediatrics.
