Fatal-Jarisch Herxheimer reaction in a case of relapsing fever misdiagnosed as lobar pneumonia.

A fatal Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction developed after treatment with high doses of penicillin in a case of lobar pneumonia caused by Borrelia duttoni. Penicillin given on the first day and tetracycline on subsequent days to avoid severe Jarisch-Herxheimer reactions, has the disadvantage of a longer period of spirochetemia and hypotension as compared with tetracycline on the first day. Treatment may have contributed to the death of this patient.