title: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
abstract: This report describes the epidemiological and clinical-evolutive characteristics of eight patients with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A positive history of contact with rodents was present in 100% of the cases. The time between the onset of symptoms and hospital care was, on average, 3.6 days. All patients showed clinical and laboratory findings suggestive of HPS. Elevated urea and creatinine levels were observed in 6 (75%) cases, PO2 was < 60 mmHg in 100% of the cases, and a chest X-ray demonstrated a bilateral interstitial-alveolar infiltrate. The diagnosis was confirmed by the detection of IgM antibodies against Sin Nombre virus by ELISA. Three patients died as a direct consequence of HPS.
authors.affiliation: Disciplina de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brasil. dip_fmtm@mednet.com.br
authors.forename: Mario León
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Silva-Vergara
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Cristina Hueb
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Barata
authors.forename: Vítor Guilherme Maluf
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Curi
authors.forename: Carlos Giovanni
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Tiveron
authors.forename: Alan César
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D018804:Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D012377:Rodentia / Q000821:virology