title: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Southern Chile, 1995-2012.
abstract: Hantavirus is endemic to the Region de Los Lagos in southern Chile; its incidence is 8.5 times higher in the communes of the Andean area than in the rest of the region. We analyzed the epidemiologic aspects of the 103 cases diagnosed by serology and the clinical aspects of 80 hospitalized patients during 1995-2012. Cases in this region clearly predominated during winter, whereas in the rest of the country, they occur mostly during summer. Mild, moderate, and severe disease was observed, and the case-fatality rate was 32%. Shock caused death in 75% of those cases; high respiratory frequency and elevated creatinine plasma level were independent factors associated with death. Early clinical suspicion, especially in rural areas, should prompt urgent transfer to a hospital with an intensive care unit and might help decrease the high case-fatality rate.
authors: Raúl
authors: R
authors: Riquelme
authors: María Luisa
authors: ML
authors: Rioseco
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Bastidas
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Trincado
authors: Mauricio
authors: M
authors: Riquelme
authors: Hugo
authors: H
authors: Loyola
authors: Francisca
authors: F
authors: Valdivieso
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006476:Orthohantavirus; D018804:Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011159:Population Surveillance; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Andes virus; Chile; hantavirus; hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; vector-borne infections; viruses