Leptospirosis in southern Coastal Karnataka, India: Analysis of clinical and laboratory characteristics

نویسندگان

1 Department of Microbiology, Student of KS Hedge Medical Academy (KSHEMA), University: Nitte (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, India City: Mangaluru Country: India

2 Department of Microbiology Faculty of KS Hedge Medical Academy (KSHEMA) University: Nitte (Deemed to be University) City: Mangaluru Country: India

3 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Malabar Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, University: Kerala University of Health Sciences, Kozhikode, India

4 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of KS Hedge Medical Academy (KSHEMA), University: Nitte (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, India

doi
10.22034/jzd.2025.20572
چکیده

The current study analyses the clinical, haematological and biochemical characteristics in patients diagnosed with leptospirosis. This study was retrospective of a period of two years from March 2021 to February 2023. A total of 138 patients clinically suspected of leptospirosis with positive Leptospira IgM ELISA results were included in the study. The clinical presentation, complications, treatment, outcome, haematological parameters like haemoglobin, leucocyte count, platelet count, prothrombin time, biochemical parameters like total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea and serum creatinine were studied. Males were majority (n=99, 71.7%) and average age was 47.5 ± 13.3 years with maximum number of cases (n=68, 49.2%) noted in age group of 41 to 60 years. Fourteen patients (10.1%) succumbed to leptospirosis. Fever (n=115, 83.3%), vomiting (n=56, 40.6%), malaise (n=49, 35.5%), decreased urine output (n=40, 29.0%), and abdominal pain (n=37, 26.8%) were common complaints. The common complication was acute kidney injury (n=87, 63.0%). Majority of cases showed deranged haematological and biochemical parameters with leucocytosis (n=65, 47.1%), significant neutrophilia (n=95, 68.8%), thrombocytopenia (n=109, 80.0%), raised ESR (n=121, 87.7%), raised prothrombin time (n=27, 19.6%), hyperbilirubinemia (n=103, 74.6%), raised AST (n=108, 78.3%), raised ALT (n=86, 62.3%), hyperuremia (n=92, 66.7%), and raised creatinine (n=98, 71.0%). AST was significantly (p=0.011) higher in deceased patients compared to patients who recovered. Most of the patients received doxycycline antibiotic therapy (n=134, 97.1%). Febrile illness with deranged haematological, renal and liver function tests should raise a suspicion of leptospirosis in endemic regions. Prompt supportive treatment along with antibiotic therapy with doxycycline has favourable outcomes. Significantly elevated AST levels were associated with mortality.