Learning Objectives: Rickettsia and travelling sisters
By the end of this session, the students should be able to:
Define Rickettsial organisms and classify them based on their taxonomy and disease-causing groups (e.g., spotted fever group, typhus group, scrub typhus).
Describe the epidemiology, transmission, and geographic distribution of major Rickettsial diseases, with emphasis on travel-related risks and endemic areas.
Discuss the pathogenesis and clinical features of common Rickettsial infections (e.g., scrub typhus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus), including typical rash patterns and systemic involvement.
Interpret clinical clues from a travel history and symptom pattern to suspect Rickettsial infection in febrile patients.
Explain the principles of laboratory diagnosis of Rickettsial diseases, including the limitations of serological and molecular methods.
Outline the standard treatment protocols for Rickettsial infections, with a focus on doxycycline use and early empirical therapy.
Recognize the importance of vector control, personal protection, and public health measures in the prevention of Rickettsial infections in travelers