Clinical features of leptospirosis experienced in a university hospital between 2001 and 2007 |
Seung-Ji Kang, Kyung Ju Lee, Kyung-Hwa Park, Sook-In Jung |
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최근 7년간 일개 대학병원에서 경험한 렙토스피라병의 임상적 고찰 |
강승지, 이경주, 박경화, 정숙인 |
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Abstract |
Background/Aims: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of global importance. In addition, pulmonary involvement of this disease
has been increasingly reported in recent decades. The present study was performed to analyze the clinical features of leptospirosis
experienced during recent years and to investigate the clinical significance of pulmonary involvement.
Methods: Patients with serologically confirmed leptospirosis who visited Chonnam National University Hospital from 2001 to
2007 were enrolled in this study. Epidemiologic characteristics, clinical features, laboratory findings, and outcomes of patients with
leptospirosis were analyzed.
Results: Among a total of 68 patients, 47 (69.1%) had a history of occupational exposure. Fever (88.2%), myalgia (80.9%), headache
(69.1%), hypotension (51.5%), dyspnea (44.1%), and abdominal pain (55.9%) were commonly observed. The overall case fatality
rate was 5.8%. In the group of patients with pulmonary involvement (n=44), dyspnea, hemoptysis, renal dysfunction, and
thrombocytopenia were more frequently observed than in patients without pulmonary involvement (n=24). Mixed type presentations
and the use of mechanical ventilation were more commonly observed in patients with pulmonary involvement as compared
to patients without pulmonary involvement.
Conclusions: Leptospirosis with pulmonary involvement is common and may have severe clinical outcomes. Therefore, close
monitoring and intensive care is important for patients with leptospirosis and pulmonary involvement. (Korean J Med 77:453-460,
2009) |
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