Article: WEIL’S DISEASE WITH A PATHOGNOMONIC CONJUNCTIVAL SUFFUSION AND RASHES: A CASE REPORT

Article Category: Case Reports

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.100374

Pages: 107-110

Author: Vaishnavi K, Channaraya V, Ramakrishna Prudhivi *, Monika K A, Charitha K S, Ramana Reddy M

Abstract: Leptospirosis is an emerging infectious disease, as illustrated by recent large outbreaks in Asia, Central and South America, and the United States. Severe form of leptospirosis, characterized by jaundice, renal dysfunction, and haemorrhagic diathesis, is referred to as Weil’s disease. The outbreak of Weil’s disease in India has increased in past couple of years due to worst floods. A 39year old male admitted to the hospital with fever, uniform rashes, chills, and weakness. Initially the dengue and malaria rapid tests were negative with elevated GRBS, serum creatinine, bilirubin levels, SGOT/SGPT and decreased platelets. Patient was put on antibiotics in view of sepsis with UTI, AKI and thrombocytopenia. The next day Leptospirosis was confirmed with leptospira IgM and ELISA. The patient developed conjunctival suffusion, jerky movements and pedal oedema during hospitalisation which was decreased within 2days with the antibiotics. The hepatic and renal function improved on 6^th day of admission and slowly the patient improved biochemically and symptomatically. The patient recovered and discharged after 9days of hospitalisation. The above case of Weil’s disease presented was initially misinterpreted as Dengue this should serve to alert healthcare providers and the general public as leptospirosis is often overlooked and under diagnosed due to its non-specific symptoms. The physicians should be alerted to consider leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis so that early empirical treatment can be given.

Keyword: Weil’s disease, leptospirosis, acute kidney injury (AKI), conjunctival suffusion.