[A clinical epidemiological study of Mediterranean boutonneuse fever in the Cartagena area].

Clinical and epidemiological features of 72 cases of boutonneuse fever, detected from 1979 to 1986 at the "Hospital del Insalud de Cartagena" (Murcia), are reviewed. The most important clinical features are commented on (fever, rash, tache noire), as well as the less important (dizziness, cough, conjunctivitis, sensorial changes). Several epidemiological factors were analyzed, temperature having been found to be the most significant in our area. The complications observed mainly affected patients with risk factors (senility, thrombocytopenia, hyponatremia, high blood pressure) being particularly severe in a patient who developed lethal DIC and in another 2 who developed pulmonary thromboembolism. The prophylactic measures suggested were the strict control of animals susceptible to parasites and organizing of disinfestation campaigns in the endemic areas.