Viscerotropic Rocky Mountain spotted fever in southeastern Texas: report of a survivor with atypical manifestations and multiple organ failure.

A 32-year-old black man from rural southeastern Texas had headache, fever, chills, bronchopneumonia, and an atypical rash, complicated by hypotension, lethargy, confusion, liver dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. The diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) was not suspected until eight days after the onset of symptoms. He was subsequently treated with chloramphenicol, followed by hemodialysis and aggressive supportive therapy. He recovered uneventfully with complete return of renal function. This case emphasizes that RMSF should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any obscure febrile illness even in nonendemic areas.