Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41560107›Full record

ArticleMedicine2026

mNGS facilitates the diagnosis of pediatric murine typhus: A case report.

Jia-Xin Duan, Hui Jian, Li Chang, Jie Teng, Shu-Yu Lai, Qiu-Xia Yang, Guang-Lu Che, Li-Li Luo, Fang Liu

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jia-Xin DuanDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Hui JianDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Li ChangDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Jie TengDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Shu-Yu LaiDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Qiu-Xia YangDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Guang-Lu CheDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Li-Li LuoKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Fang LiuDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationaleMurine typhus, caused by Rickettsia typhi, is a globally distributed flea-borne rickettsiosis. Although rarely recognized, it can trigger hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome. Nonspecific febrile illness and atypical petechial eruptions frequently lead to delayed or missed diagnoses. This report aims to illustrate the diagnostic process and clinical implications of murine typhus-associated HLH in a pediatric patient, and to evaluate the utility of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) as an unbiased detection tool for occult pathogens. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 10-year-old child was admitted with unexplained recurrent fever and generalized petechiae, refractory to treatment at outside hospitals. DIAGNOSES: The patient was ultimately diagnosed with murine typhus-associated HLH caused by R typhi, based on a comprehensive diagnostic work-up.

interventionsEmpirical dexamethasone was initiated promptly to control hyperinflammation. After mNGS confirmation, oral doxycycline was added for targeted anti-rickettsial therapy. OUTCOMES: The patient's clinical status continued to improve, culminating in discharge. LESSONS: Murine typhus-associated HLH should be considered in febrile children with unexplained cytopenias and petechiae. Early empiric HLH-directed immunosuppression followed by pathogen-specific therapy improves prognosis. mNGS provides a rapid, unbiased method to detect rare, overlooked pathogens and guide definitive treatment when conventional tests are negative.

Indexed as

High-Throughput Nucleotide SequencingLymphohistiocytosis, HemophagocyticRickettsia typhiTyphus, Endemic Flea-BorneAnti-Bacterial AgentsChildDexamethasoneDoxycyclineHumansAnti-Bacterial AgentsDexamethasoneDoxycyclinehemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosismetagenomics next-generation sequencingmurine typhus

Identifiers

PMID41560107
PMCPMC12826250

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.