Carrion's disease
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Carrion's disease, or bartonellosis, or Oroya fever, is a rare infectious disease found only in certain regions of South America. It is caused by infection with the bacterium Bartonella bacilliformis (B. bacilliformis), which is transmitted by sandflies. Bartonellosis is usually characterized by two distinctive stages: a sudden (acute), potentially life-threatening illness associated with high fever and decreased levels of circulating red blood cells (i.e., hemolytic anemia) and a chronic, benign skin eruption consisting of raised, reddish-purple nodules.
The disease was named after Dr. Alcides Carrión of Piura, Peru. He described the disease after being infected by a close friend on his request. After his death from the disease, his friend was arrested and tried for murder. Dr. Carrión was related to the family of Alejandro and Clodoveo Carrión of nearby Loja, Ecuador.
The Disease was discovered and researched by Dr. Carrion and Dr. Alberto Barton. Dr. Barton gave the name Bartonellosis to the disease but, after Carrion's death, it was popularly known as Carrion's Disease.
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