T he Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) is a complex immune response often seen in patients undergoing antibiotic treatment for various bacterial infections, including several tick-borne diseases.
This reaction can cause a range of symptoms, from fever and chills to more severe manifestations, and understanding it is crucial for effective patient care.
Dr. Christine Green, Invisible International’s Co-Director of Education, LymeDisease.org board member, and a Stanford-trained family medicine physician, shares her insights on JHR, its mechanisms, and its clinical implications.
- Q1 What exactly is the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction and how was it first discovered?
- ADr. Green: The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, commonly abbreviated as JHR, was first described in 1895 by Dr. Jarisch and later in 1902 by Dr. Herxheimer. They observed this reaction in patients treated for syphilis with mercury. The reaction they documented included symptoms such as fever, headache, rigors, malaise, hypotension, sweating, and chills.
These symptoms typically appeared shortly after starting treatment and were initially thought to be unique to spirochetal infections like syphilis. However, we now know that JHR can occur with various bacterial infections, particularly those treated with antibiotics.【Jarisch, 1】【Herxheimer, 2】
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