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Leptospirosis presenting as atypical pneumonia, respiratory failure and pyogenic meningitis
F S Alani1, M P Mahoney, L P Ormerod
1Department of Medicine, Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Lancashire, U.K.
The Journal of Infection
|November 1, 1993
Abstract:
A 20-year-old man who looked after a pack of hounds was admitted with a short history of headache, fever, haemoptysis and muscle cramps. Investigations showed type I respiratory failure with diffuse pneumonitis, pyogenic meningitis and raised liver enzymes. Leptospirosis was suspected and treated with the appropriate antibiotics leading to a full recovery. The diagnosis was confirmed by a titre of I/2560 to Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae. The case illustrates an unusual presentation of this infection and argues for early antibiotic treatment.