The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) occurs when a person infected with certain organisms is treated with antibiotics.
Classic condition associated with JHR: secondary syphilis or neurosyphilis
Other infections where JHR has been reported:
(1) Q fever
(2) Borreliosis, including Lyme disease and relapsing fever
(3) toxoplasmosis
(4) tuberculosis
(5) leptospirosis
(6) Whipple disease
(7) meningococcal meningitis
An HIV-positive patient may be at risk because large number of organisms may be present. The JHR in these patients must be distinguished from the immune reconstitution syndrome.
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