Fatal Leptospirosis Case in Pediatric Patient: Clinical Case

Leptospirosis Prevalence and Associated Factors in School Children from Valle de Chalco-Solidaridad, State of Mexico

“…However, according to what is stated in some studies and similarly to those studies performed in endemic areas, most of the studied children were anicteric, asymptomatic or presented undifferentiated symptoms during the infection in the acute stage [15], for they did not manifest any typical symptomatology associated with the acute stage at the time of the interview. Consistently with that reported in other works, it was demonstrated that the contact with domestic animals, especially dogs and their excrete (urine), are related with the presence of the infection in children [22,23]. This is more evident when considering that as a complementary part of the study, a group of children who referred having a dog in the house was selected to take samples of the pet, and by means of dark field analysis, find the presence of Leptospira in blood.…”

“…Getting out this information is fundamental to offer doctors the tools for diagnosis and treatment of this disease in children, once the prognosis in infected individuals depends of an early diagnosis [23].…”

“…Nevertheless, leptospirosis has been currently described as a disease that may be chronically present, with multiple manifestations and complications [19][20][21].In children, the infection may simulate a number of infectious diseases, such as viral meningoencephalitis, pharyngitis, urinary tract infection, mononucleosis, and other [22]. This is especially important in the case of hepatitis, for the presence of severe leptospirosis cases with a fatal ending have been documented, and which were initially treated as viral hepatitis [23].It is currently known that children are a high risk group for the disease, for they are in contact with their pets, especially with dogs [24] and their urine. The children in Valle de Chalco, Estado de México, are in addition exposed to frequent and large floods and thus to contact with stagnant waters, increasing the risk for infection.Although studies have been performed in the general population, and being considered an occupational-type disease [25], children are almost always excluded; in the same way, most of these studies have been performed in diseased persons in acute state, and the infection prevalence in children in unknown and little is known regarding the presence in carriers and/or chronic Leptospira infection in them.…”

“…In children, the infection may simulate a number of infectious diseases, such as viral meningoencephalitis, pharyngitis, urinary tract infection, mononucleosis, and other [22]. This is especially important in the case of hepatitis, for the presence of severe leptospirosis cases with a fatal ending have been documented, and which were initially treated as viral hepatitis [23].…”