Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis infection in a pediatric patient presenting skin rash and abdominal pain: a case report from Southeast Iran

Background The healthcare system in Iran appears to overlook Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) as an endemic disease, particularly in pediatric cases, indicating the need for greater attention and awareness. Case presentation A six-year-old patient with fever, abdominal pain, headache, skin rashes, diarrhea, vomiting, and black eschar (tache noire) from southeast Iran was identified as a rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia conorii subsp. israelensis through clinical and laboratory assessments, including IFA and real-time PCR. The patient was successfully treated with doxycycline. Conclusions Symptoms like rash, edema, eschar, and abdominal pain may indicate the possibility of MSF during the assessment of acute febrile illness, IFA and real-time PCR are the primary diagnostic methods for this disease.