tetracycline and Insect-Bites-and-Stings

Livedo vasculopathy (LV) is a chronic cutaneous disorder characterised by recurrent, painful ulceration ending in stellate scars. We have conducted a retrospective study of clinical features and treatment response of LV in 24 Chinese patients. LV occurred more frequently in women (male:female ratio  1:3). The peak age at onset of disease ranged from 14 to 20 years, younger than previously published data. 87.5% of the patients (21/24) showed significant summer exacerbation with ulcer formation. Out of 24 patients tested, 14 (58.3%) had positive antiphospholipid antibodies. Ten out of 14 patients (71.4%) were tested to be hypersensitive to multivalent insect antigens. Combinative anti-inflammatory therapy with steroids, tetracycline and Tripterygium glycosides plus antiplatelet/profibrinolytic drugs promoted quick healing of ulcer and reduce recurrence. The younger age of disease presentation and significant summer exacerbation are 2 novel clinical features observed in this study. These findings suggest that apart from procoagulation other risk factors may contribute significantly to the pathogenesis of LV. Although antiplatelet/profibrinolytic drugs are deemed as a first line therapy for LV, anti-inflammatory medications such as steroids, tetracycline and Tripterygium glycosides, from our experiences, are indispensable, especially for acute, ulcerative stage of disease.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; Asian People; Biopsy; China; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Insect Bites and Stings; Leg Ulcer; Livedo Reticularis; Male; Phytotherapy; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Prednisone; Retrospective Studies; Seasons; Sex Distribution; Skin; Tetracycline; Tripterygium; Young Adult

A prior study in mice has shown that the timely application of topical antibiotics to the skin at the tick bite site could eradicate Borrelia burgdorferi infection. That study, however, did not evaluate antibiotic preparations that are considered suitable for use in humans. In this murine study, topical application of 2% erythromycin and 3% tetracycline preparations that are acceptable for use in humans was found to be ineffective in eliminating B. burgdorferi from the tick bite site or in preventing dissemination to other tissues. Reasons for the discrepant findings are discussed.

Topics: Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Borrelia burgdorferi; Erythromycin; Insect Bites and Stings; Lyme Disease; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Tetracycline

Scrub typhus rarely figures among the imported tropical diseases in western Europe. Rickettsia tsutsugamushi is transmitted by larval mites. A typical eschar develops at the site of the mite bite during the incubation period, after which systemic symptoms (remittent or continuous high fever, severe headache, tender lymphatic glands and symptoms of bronchitis) develop with sudden onset. Antibodies appear during the second week and can be shown by a positive and increasing titer against Prot. OXK (Weil-Felix) or by specific rickettsial agglutination. The Weil-Felix reaction is neither very sensitive nor very specific. Therefore, treatment should be started as soon as suspicion arises whether a positive serology is available or not. Tetracycline drugs are effective treatment and fever subsides in less than 24 hours in most patients. - We report the rare observation of a tourist who imported tsutsugamushi fever from India.

Topics: Animals; Arachnid Vectors; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Male; Middle Aged; Mites; Scrub Typhus; Tetracycline

Authors report six cases of boutonneuse Mediterranean fever seen in the last two years. All of them presented fever, malaise, generalised maculopapulous rash and a typical black spot or inoculation canker. Diagnosis was done by a positive Weil-Félix test. The treatment used was tetracycline with good results. Incidence of this disease is increasing in our country.

Topics: Boutonneuse Fever; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Hemagglutination Tests; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Male; Rickettsiaceae Infections; Tetracycline; Ticks

Topics: Agglutination Tests; Chloramphenicol; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Male; Scrub Typhus; Tetracycline; Travel

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Chloramphenicol; Complement Fixation Tests; Diagnosis, Differential; Dogs; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Hemagglutination Tests; Humans; Insect Bites and Stings; Leukocyte Count; Male; Massachusetts; Measles; Occupations; Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever; Seasons; Tetracycline; Thrombocytopenia; Ticks; Zoonoses