Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Mediterranean exanthematous fever

An affection occurring sporadically in the Mediterranean littoral marked by a severe chill with abrupt rise of temperature, pains in the joints, tonsillitis, diarrhoea, vomiting, and, on the third to fifth day, a rash of elevated nonconfluent macules beginning on the thighs and spreading to the entire body; lasts from ten days to two weeks and then disappears by rapid lysis without desquamation; probably caused by rickettsia conorii, like boutonneuse fever.