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Melioidosis masquerading as enteric fever

Rohith Valsalan1, Shubha Seshadri, Vinay R Pandit

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Udupi District, 576 104, Karnataka, India. drrohithv@gmail.com

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|January 6, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Melioidosis, a rare infection in India, is emerging as a significant health concern. This case highlights the importance of considering melioidosis in febrile patients, even when initial symptoms mimic enteric fever.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Melioidosis is endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.
  • It is rarely reported in India, where enteric fever is more common.
  • Emerging infectious disease patterns are being observed globally.

Observation:

  • A 50-year-old male with diabetes presented with acute febrile illness.
  • Initial investigations suggested enteric fever, with partial response to ceftriaxone.
  • The patient later diagnosed with melioidosis.

Findings:

  • Widal titres remained persistently elevated despite treatment with meropenem.
  • This case underscores diagnostic challenges in differentiating melioidosis from enteric fever.
  • Melioidosis diagnosis requires specific microbiological confirmation.

Implications:

  • Increased awareness and diagnostic vigilance for melioidosis in India are crucial.
  • This case highlights the need for updated diagnostic protocols for febrile illnesses in endemic regions.
  • Further research into the epidemiology and clinical presentation of melioidosis in India is warranted.

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