Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction among syphilis patients in China.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM:

The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) is an acute systemic event that can occur during the treatment of spirochetal infections, especially Treponema pallidum in patients with syphilis. JHR has clinical characteristics of an inflammatory reaction to antibiotic treatment and can occur with many medications as long as the antitreponemal concentrations are sufficiently high.

METHODS:

The incidence of and risk factors for JHR were investigated retrospectively among 1125 patients with syphilis. A total of 357 patients (32%) had secondary syphilis, 129 (12%) primary, 178 (16%) early latent, 174 (15%) late latent and 285 (25%) latent unknown duration; two patients had tertiary syphilis.

RESULTS:

Sixteen patients (1.4%) developed JHR. All JHRs occurred in patients with secondary and latent syphilis treated with penicillin.

CONCLUSIONS:

JHR occurred much less frequently than in previously reported studies. It is important that dermatologists recognize the clinical characteristics of JHR so that it is not misinterpreted as an allergic reaction to treatment.

• Authors: J Li, L-N Wang, H-Y Zheng
• Journal: Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV (J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol) Vol. 27 Issue 10 Pg. 1304-7 (Oct 2013) ISSN: 1468-3083 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22607395 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2012 The Authors. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology © 2012 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Penicillins

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• China (epidemiology)
• Female
• Fever (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Headache (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Inflammation (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Nausea (chemically induced, epidemiology)
• Penicillins (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Retrospective Studies
• Risk Factors
• Syphilis (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Treponema pallidum