title: [Leptospiral infection and subclinical presentation among children in Salvador, Bahia].
abstract: The purposes of this investigation were to identify the frequency and risk factors of leptospiral infection among children aged between 2 and 15 years in Salvador, Bahia, household contacts of patients (index-cases) hospitalized at Couto Maia Hospital due to Leptospira interrogans (ELISA IgM positive). Among 148 household contacts from 25 selected index-cases, clinical and epidemiological data were collected and ELISA IGM and IgG were performed in paired sera (between 20 days) from 73 (49.3%). This diagnostic method divided the 73 household contacts into three groups: group A (acute or recent leptospiral infection), 30 (41.1%) children, group B (not- infected ) 34 (46.6%) and group C, (past infection) nine (12.3%) children. In group A five (16.7%) had cold syndrome simile. No statistically significant difference was found between groups A and B for sex, race, age and presence of pet dog. However, in group A there was a statistically significant predominance (p < 0.05%) of: contact with natural water courses; index-case sibling aged under fifteen years; female sex and over 9 years old; and principally lack of appropiate trash disposal in the residential area. In conclusion, leptospiral infection in children (from 2 to 15 years of age) in Salvador is underestimated, because it is asymptomatic or presents as a cold syndrome simile.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudos de Infectologia Pediátrica, Hospital Couto Maia, Secretaria de Saúde do Estado da Bahia, Brasil. hagars@ufba.br
authors.forename: Hagamenon R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tavares-Neto
authors.forename: José Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bina
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007921:Leptospira interrogans / Q000276:immunology; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007075:Immunoglobulin M