[A prospective study of 57 cases of Mediterranean boutonneuse fever]

Mediterranean boutonneuse fever (MBF) is an uncommon acute infective disease characterized by the development of an inoculation lesion followed by fever and maculo-papular erythematous rash. In the present study we have evaluated the epidemiological, clinical and laboratory abnormalities of 57 cases of MBF diagnosed in our Hospital during a 2-year period. Although incidence does not appear to increase, our series shows that MBF is a common disease in our area. On the whole, MBF is a benign condition; however, torpid forms are increasingly reported. Therefore, a rational therapeutic approach questioning the validity of single therapeutic doses is required, particularly for adults.