title: Different clinical spectrum of leptospirosis.
abstract: Leptospirosis is a prevalent zoonotic disease. Human infection usually occurs through exposure to environmental sources. Clinical course of leptospirosis is variable. We presented five patients, aged between 4-14 years, having a history of contact with rodents and symptoms 7-10 days after contact. The first three cases were relatives and had contact with dead rats after applying insecticides to bakery across from their house. The first case diagnosed as isolated meningitis, others as flu-like illness. The fourth case had a contact history with a rat inundate in the canalization and diagnosed as acute hepatitis. The last case, living in a village with poor sanitation, developed secondary hemophagocytic syndrome. ELISA was performed for diagnosis. High dose penicillin and additional immunosuppressive drugs for the last case were used. All cases showed recovery within 10 days. Leptospirosis should be considered in any patient presenting with an abrupt onset or prolonged fever, myalgia, headache and jaundice.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma Deniz
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Aygün
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Pınar Özge
authors.initials: PÖ
authors.lastname: Avar-Aydın
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Haluk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Çokuğraş
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Istanbul University Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yıldız
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Camcıoğlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents
keywords: childhood; hemophagocytic syndrome; leptospirosis; meningitis