Osong Public Health Res Perspect.
2018 Jun;9(3):122-125. 10.24171/j.phrp.2018.9.3.07.
Case of Rickettsia typhi-induced Brain Abscess Mimicking Brain Tumor
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Neurology, Laboratory for Neurotherapeutics, Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Center for Medical Innovations, Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital; Program in Neuroscience, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. stemcell.snu@gmail.com
- 2Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul, Korea.
- KMID: 2416894
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2018.9.3.07
Abstract
- Murine typhus is one of the most prevalent rickettsial infections in the world, caused by the bacterial genus Rickettsia. Though the disease manifests a relatively benign clinical course with fever, rash, and headache being the 3 classic symptoms, neurological complications may arise in patients that could become permanent. In this case study, a patient with a brain abscess caused by R typhi infection is described. Based upon the recent reemergence of arthropod-borne disease, the findings in this case are significant; R typhi can cause a brain abscess that mimics a brain tumor, which delays the diagnosis and appropriate management of the disease. Murine typhus should always be considered when performing the differential diagnosis of brain abscesses in South Korea.
