Clinical and Epidemiological Status of Patients with Confirmed Diagnosis of Leptospirosis

Abstract

Introduction: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with epidemic potential, mainly after a heavy rainfall. It is caused by a bacterium called Leptospira.

Objective: To determine the clinical and epidemiological status of patients with confirmed diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted at the Provincial Hygiene, Epidemiology and Microbiology Center in Camaguey over the decade 2011-2020. The scope of the study included the 90 patients whose diagnosis was confirmed by the epidemiological survey and the results of the complementary laboratory tests. The variables examined included: age, sex, municipality of residence, risk criteria, signs and symptoms, season of the year, status at hospital discharge. The data were expressed as absolute values and percent.

Results: The age group from 40 to 49 years predominated among males 19 (21.1%). Camaguey municipality accounted for the majority of cases 23 (25.5%), although those with risk criteria were mainly from rural areas 67 (74.4%) and had contact with dogs (73.3%) and pigs (48.8%). The main symptoms were: fever (98.8%) and headache (95.5%); the most common clinical manifestations included jaundice (13.5%) and hepatomegaly (11.1%). It was found that a significant number of patients had not been vaccinated.

Conclusions: The clinical and epidemiological status of all the patients studied is acceptable. The majority of them, when discharged from the hospital, are healed or in better conditions despite the complications they presented.

 leptospirosis; zoonosis; tropical disease; jaundice.