JARISCH HERXHEIMER REACTION

Course overview

JARISCH HERXHEIMER REACTION (JHR) IS A TRANSIENT CLINICAL PHENOMENON THAT OCCURS IN PATIENTS INFECTED BY SPIROCHETES WHO UNDERGO ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT. THE REACTION OCCURS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENT OF SPIROCHETE INFECTIONS, INCLUDING SYPHILIS, LEPTOSPIROSIS, LYME DISEASE, AND RELAPSING FEVER. JHR USUALLY MANIFESTS AS FEVER, CHILLS, RIGORS, NAUSEA AND VOMITING, HEADACHE, TACHYCARDIA, HYPOTENSION, HYPERVENTILATION, FLUSHING, MYALGIA, AND EXACERBATION OF SKIN LESIONS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF JHR AND REVIEWS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND MANAGING PATIENTS WITH THIS CONDITION.