Adolf Jarisch
Encyclopedia
Adolf Jarisch was an Austrian dermatologist born in Vienna
. He studied medicine in Vienna, and afterwards worked in the dermatology clinic of Ferdinand von Hebra (1816-1880). Later he became head of the dermatology clinic at the Universities of Innsbruck (1887) and Graz
(1892). His son, also named Adolf Jarisch (1891-1965) was a noted pharmacologist.
Jarisch is remembered for his work involving venereal disease. His name is lent to the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction along with German-Jewish dermatologist Karl Herxheimer
(1861-1942), and is an inflammatory reaction to treatment of syphilis
. Jarisch noticed unexpected illness and worsening of skin lesions in some syphilitic patients immediately after being treated with mercury
. These patients would experience fever
, nausea
, vomiting, plus their lesion
s would worsen before eventually abating and healing. The illness could last as long as 2–3 days, which was then followed by resolution of the skin lesions.
The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is also the name given to a reaction often precipitated by treatment of relapsing fever
s. It usually begins within a few hours of the first dose and causes an initial rise in temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure
, then followed by marked vasodilation
& sweating, which can result in shock.
's Handbuch der speciellen Pathologie und Therapie. Other publications by Jarisch include:
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He studied medicine in Vienna, and afterwards worked in the dermatology clinic of Ferdinand von Hebra (1816-1880). Later he became head of the dermatology clinic at the Universities of Innsbruck (1887) and Graz
University of Graz
The University of Graz , a university located in Graz, Austria, is the second-largest and second-oldest university in Austria....
(1892). His son, also named Adolf Jarisch (1891-1965) was a noted pharmacologist.
Jarisch is remembered for his work involving venereal disease. His name is lent to the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction along with German-Jewish dermatologist Karl Herxheimer
Karl Herxheimer
Karl Herxheimer was a German-Jewish dermatologist who was a native of Wiesbaden.In 1885 he received his doctorate at Würzburg, and later worked with his brother, Salomon Herxheimer in Frankfurt-am-Main...
(1861-1942), and is an inflammatory reaction to treatment of syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
. Jarisch noticed unexpected illness and worsening of skin lesions in some syphilitic patients immediately after being treated with mercury
Mercury (element)
Mercury is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. It is also known as quicksilver or hydrargyrum...
. These patients would experience fever
Fever
Fever is a common medical sign characterized by an elevation of temperature above the normal range of due to an increase in the body temperature regulatory set-point. This increase in set-point triggers increased muscle tone and shivering.As a person's temperature increases, there is, in...
, nausea
Nausea
Nausea , is a sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach with an involuntary urge to vomit. It often, but not always, precedes vomiting...
, vomiting, plus their lesion
Lesion
A lesion is any abnormality in the tissue of an organism , usually caused by disease or trauma. Lesion is derived from the Latin word laesio which means injury.- Types :...
s would worsen before eventually abating and healing. The illness could last as long as 2–3 days, which was then followed by resolution of the skin lesions.
The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is also the name given to a reaction often precipitated by treatment of relapsing fever
Relapsing fever
Relapsing fever is an infection caused by certain bacteria in the genus Borrelia. It is a vector-borne disease that is transmitted through the bites of lice or soft-bodied ticks.-Louse-borne relapsing fever:...
s. It usually begins within a few hours of the first dose and causes an initial rise in temperature, pulse rate and blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
, then followed by marked vasodilation
Vasodilation
Vasodilation refers to the widening of blood vessels resulting from relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, particularly in the large arteries, smaller arterioles and large veins. The process is essentially the opposite of vasoconstriction, or the narrowing of blood vessels. When...
& sweating, which can result in shock.
Written works
Among his numerous publications is Die Hautkrankheiten, an influential book on skin disorders that was included in Carl NothnagelCarl Nothnagel
Carl Wilhelm Hermann Nothnagel was a German internist born in Alt-Lietzegöricke , nearby Bärwalde in der Neumark , Neumark, Brandenburg....
's Handbuch der speciellen Pathologie und Therapie. Other publications by Jarisch include:
- Lupus vulgaris, 1890
- Demonstration eines Falles von Summer Eruption, 1896
- Demonstration von Psorospermien der Darierschen Dermatose, 1896
- Vorstellung eines Falles von Hydrocystoma, 1896