Typhus-induced facial necrosis.

A patient with open wounds on his hands developed a severe case of typhus following exposure to a wild rabbit. Typhus resulted in extensive necrosis of the mid-face, including the nasal alae, pinna, and lips. The patient also sustained extensive extremity necrosis. A brief review of the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of this cause of facial necrosis is presented, as well as a discussion of dopamine gangrene. While this uncommon entity probably played a large part in the necrosis of this patient's extremities, these peripheral lesions are also compatible with typhus.