A case of ARDS Overlooked Tsutstugamushi Disease that Presented as Simple Cutaneous Lesions

Tsutstugamushi disease is a major febrile disease that generally occurs in the fall in Korea with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and leptospirosis. This disease is often accompanied by interstitial pneumonia, acute renal failure and liver failure. The causative agent, namely Orientia tsutsugamushi, is transmitted to humans through the bite of a laval trombiculid mite, which is commonly known as a chigger. A 78 year old man was admitted in October 2004 with intractable fever and a drowsy mentality. Two weeks earlier, he visited a private clinic complaining of a simple skin rash. He was treated with antihistamine and steroid, but his symptoms were aggravated and he was referred to our hospital. His physical examination and laboratory findings showed a septic shock status. The maculopapular rash had spread over his face, chest, abdomen and extremities. Eschar was observed in lower back area but it was too difficult to distinguish it from other skin rashes. His chest X-ray appeared as diffuse nodular patchy consolidations in the bilateral lung parenchyme. He was treated with a mechanical ventilator and doxycycline under th suspicion of Tsutstugamushi disease. However, he suffered multiorgan failure accompanied by acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure and acute hepatitis. He was treated in the intensive care unit for approximately 12 weeks and his general condition was recovered.

단순 피부병변으로 간과되어 급성 호흡곤란 증후군으로 진행된 쯔쯔가무시병 1예

저자들은 홍반성 구진양 발진으로 발현된 쯔쯔가무시병환자에서 단순 피부질환으로 간과하여 치료의 시기가 지연되고 스테로이드 등의 약물 사용으로 급성 신부전 및 급성 호흡부전으로 진행된 1례를 경험 하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.