title: [Leptospirosis in children in Ciego de Avila Province, Cuba].
abstract: The morbidity of leptospirosis among children from Ciego de Avila Province was investigated from 1982 to 1995, and 253 cases were diagnosed. Isolated cases prevailed over those occurring in outbreaks. The 10-14 age group was predominant, followed by the 5-9 age group. According to sex, it was more frequently found in males than in females. One death occurred during this period. There was an increase of cases from July to August and October, and November showed a higher incidence of cases. Fever, headache and myalgia were the symptoms and signs more frequently reported, and 92% of cases showed no icterus. Acute fever, leptospirosis and viral meningoencephalitis were the presumptive diagnoses most frequently made. Possible sources of infection involving a larger number of cases were contact with low terrains and bathing in rivers, ponds and lakes. Regarding diagnosis, 162 cases were diagnosed by the microagglutination test and 91 by the hemolytic test. Canicola, australis and pomona were the serogroups more frequently detected by the microagglutination test.
authors.affiliation: Centro provincial de Higiene y Epidemiología, Hospital General Provincial Docente Antonio Luaces Iraola de la Provincia de Ciego de Avila, Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí, Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suárez Hernández
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martínez Sánchez
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Posada Fernández
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bustelo Aguila
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Carrera Nodal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bravo Fleite
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vidal García
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sánchez Sibello
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003462:Cuba / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041341:Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D017678:Sex Distribution