EM@3AM: Murine Typhus
A 52-year-old male presents to your South Texas ED for his second visit this week complaining of indolent fever, shortness of breath, pleuritic chest pain, and a rash on his trunk and extremities. He was diagnosed with a viral syndrome three days ago but his symptoms have worsened despite supportive treatments. Upon further questioning, he reports adopting a stray cat one week ago. He is tachycardic and tachypneic with diffuse crackles and rhonchi. His skin exam is notable for a diffuse maculopapular rash covering his trunk and proximal extremities. What is the likely diagnosis?
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