Pulmonary haemorrhage as a predominant cause of death in leptospirosis in Seychelles.

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_14343
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Pulmonary haemorrhage as a predominant cause of death in leptospirosis in Seychelles.
Journal
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Author(s)
Yersin C., Bovet P., Mérien F., Clément J., Laille M., Van Ranst M., Perolat P.
ISSN
0035-9203
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2000
Volume
94
Number
1
Pages
71-76
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Case Reports ; Journal Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
We examined the cause of death during a 12-month period (1995/96) in all consecutive patients admitted to hospital with leptospiral infection in Seychelles (Indian Ocean), where the disease is endemic. Leptospirosis was diagnosed by use of the microscopic agglutination test and a specific polymerase chain reaction assay on serum samples. Seventy-five cases were diagnosed and 6 patients died, a case fatality of 8%. All 6 patients died within 9 days of onset of symptoms and within 2 days of admission for 5 of them (5 days for the 6th). On autopsy, diffuse bilateral pulmonary haemorrhage (PH) was found in all fatalities. Renal, cardiac, digestive and cerebral haemorrhages were also found in 5, 3, 3 and 1 case(s), respectively. Incidentally, haemoptysis and lung infiltrate on chest radiographs, which suggest PH, were found in 8 of the 69 non-fatal cases. Dengue and hantavirus infections were ruled out. In conclusion, PH appeared to be a main cause of death in leptospirosis in this population, although haemorrhage in other organs may also have contributed to fatal outcomes. This cause of death contrasts with the findings generally reported in endemic settings.
Keywords
Adult, Cause of Death, Hemorrhage/microbiology, Hemorrhage/mortality, Humans, Incidence, Leptospirosis/mortality, Lung Diseases/microbiology, Lung Diseases/mortality, Male, Prospective Studies, Seychelles/epidemiology
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
19/11/2007 12:06
Last modification date
14/02/2022 7:53
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