Carriona Disease

Carrion's disease

Carriona disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Bartonella bacilliformis. It is characterized by fever, anemia and hemorrhagic skin rashes.

The disease was first described in 1885 by Peruvian medical student Daniel Alcides Carrion, who deliberately infected himself with the blood of a patient suffering from a disease unknown at the time. A few weeks later, Carrion developed classic symptoms and died.

Carriona disease is endemic in some areas of South America, particularly in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. The main vector of infection is mosquitoes. Treatment includes taking antibiotics. With timely treatment, mortality does not exceed 5-10%.

Carrion disease (lat. barrionic fever) is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacillus Bartonella bacilliformis, a fatal pathogen for laboratory mice and domestic animals. The disease was described in 1909, although the first symptoms were noticed 7 years earlier. The peak incidence of the disease occurred in the second half of the 19th century. But even today doctors know Carriona. This name was given because most of the victims of the disease are young people and students. They became infected, putting their health at risk during autopsies.