Boutonneuse fever in children

Due to an increase in the number of cases of spotted fever, a prospective study was undertaken in 31 children affected by the disease, including clinical, laboratory and microbiological data from may to october of 1983. The most frequent symptoms found were: fever 100%, "tache noire" 87%, and a maculopapular rash 81%. The Weil-Felix reaction was positive in 65% of them and indirect immunofluorescence was positive in 81%, confirming the sensitivity and specificity of this serologic procedure. The 27 children who received specific treatment, 26 with tetracycline and one with chloramphenicol, differed considerably in a lesser duration of their symptoms, in comparison with the group of children without treatment.