A case of brucellosis presenting with widespread maculopapular rash

Am J Dermatopathol. 2009 Oct;31(7):687-90. doi: 10.1097/DAD.0b013e3181a5825e.

Abstract

Human brucellosis is a multisystemic infectious disease with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Severe complications involving musculoskeletal, nervous, genitourinary, and cardiovascular systems may be encountered during the course of the disease; however, cutaneous complications have been reported rarely. We report a patient with brucellosis in whom the main presenting clinical feature was a maculopapular rash and fever. He was initially diagnosed as brucellosis based on the standard tube agglutination test and blood culture positivity. Histopathologic examination of these maculopapular lesions showed perivascular and periadnexal inflammation with loose granuloma formation including giant cells. We emphasize that brucellosis is an infectious disease that should always be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of a patient with rash and fever, especially in endemic areas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Agglutination Tests
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brucellosis / complications*
  • Brucellosis / drug therapy
  • Brucellosis / pathology*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Doxycycline / adverse effects
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Duodenal Ulcer / chemically induced
  • Exanthema / drug therapy
  • Exanthema / microbiology*
  • Exanthema / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Doxycycline
  • Rifampin