An Epidemic of Oroya Fever in the Peruvian Andes
- 1 March 1990
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
- Vol. 42 (3) , 215-221
- https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1990.42.215
Abstract
Between February and October 1987, a febrile illness killed 14 persons and seriously affected at least 14 others in Shumpillan, a remote Peruvian mountain village of 353 people. The illness was characterized by fever, headache, chills, and pallor. The fatality rate of untreated cases was 88%. The patients, 71% of whom were male, were 1–75 years of age. Fatal illnesses progressed from lethargy to coma to death in 3–60 days. Patients treated empirically with chloramphenicol survived. Bartonella bacilliformis was isolated from the whole blood of 3 patients. A serologic study revealed a high prevalence of antibodies to B. bacilliformis in the villagers. It is concluded that the villagers suffered from an epidemic of Oroya fever.This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit:
- Analysis and Preparation of Bartonella Bacilliformis AntigensThe American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 1988