Clinical Features and Severity of Leptospirosis Cases Reported in the Hawke’s Bay Region of New Zealand

Aims. To record demographics, symptoms, signs, and laboratory features of confirmed leptospirosis cases in the Hawke’s Bay area of New Zealand to aid clinicians in diagnosis and recognition of severity. Methods. Review of suspected leptospirosis cases referred to the reference laboratory from hospit...

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Main Authors: Paul Sellors, Rebecca F. Watson, Rachel Bate, Gemma L. Bentham, Kathryn Haigh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Tropical Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5567081
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author Paul Sellors
Rebecca F. Watson
Rachel Bate
Gemma L. Bentham
Kathryn Haigh
author_facet Paul Sellors
Rebecca F. Watson
Rachel Bate
Gemma L. Bentham
Kathryn Haigh
author_sort Paul Sellors
collection DOAJ
description Aims. To record demographics, symptoms, signs, and laboratory features of confirmed leptospirosis cases in the Hawke’s Bay area of New Zealand to aid clinicians in diagnosis and recognition of severity. Methods. Review of suspected leptospirosis cases referred to the reference laboratory from hospitals in the Hawke’s Bay region between March 2003 and March 2012. Inclusion criteria were IgM positivity and diagnosis confirmed with either polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or microscopic agglutination test (MAT). A retrospective systematic review of case notes was completed for demographic and laboratory data. Results. Forty-three cases were included. Most common presenting symptoms were pyrexia (93%), myalgia, and headache (both 86%). 93% of patients worked in the farming or meat industries. The most common biochemical abnormalities were elevated CRP (100%) and abnormal urinalysis (93%). There was no difference in disease severity between icteric and anicteric patients. Compared to other studies, patients in New Zealand have less severe disease. Conclusion. Contrary to popular understanding, this study has not found icteric leptospirosis to be related to more severe disease. Anicteric leptospirosis should be a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with pyrexia, myalgia, and headache who have elevated CRP and abnormal urinalysis.
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spelling doaj-art-8cff6675dfc1406abb811ea4a0c121ad2025-02-03T01:00:47ZengWileyJournal of Tropical Medicine1687-96861687-96942021-01-01202110.1155/2021/55670815567081Clinical Features and Severity of Leptospirosis Cases Reported in the Hawke’s Bay Region of New ZealandPaul Sellors0Rebecca F. Watson1Rachel Bate2Gemma L. Bentham3Kathryn Haigh4Gerontology and Stroke Medicine, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UKTropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust, Liverpool, UKNightingale Valley Practice, Bristol, UKObstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UKTropical and Infectious Diseases Unit, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals Trust, Liverpool, UKAims. To record demographics, symptoms, signs, and laboratory features of confirmed leptospirosis cases in the Hawke’s Bay area of New Zealand to aid clinicians in diagnosis and recognition of severity. Methods. Review of suspected leptospirosis cases referred to the reference laboratory from hospitals in the Hawke’s Bay region between March 2003 and March 2012. Inclusion criteria were IgM positivity and diagnosis confirmed with either polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or microscopic agglutination test (MAT). A retrospective systematic review of case notes was completed for demographic and laboratory data. Results. Forty-three cases were included. Most common presenting symptoms were pyrexia (93%), myalgia, and headache (both 86%). 93% of patients worked in the farming or meat industries. The most common biochemical abnormalities were elevated CRP (100%) and abnormal urinalysis (93%). There was no difference in disease severity between icteric and anicteric patients. Compared to other studies, patients in New Zealand have less severe disease. Conclusion. Contrary to popular understanding, this study has not found icteric leptospirosis to be related to more severe disease. Anicteric leptospirosis should be a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with pyrexia, myalgia, and headache who have elevated CRP and abnormal urinalysis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5567081
spellingShingle Paul Sellors
Rebecca F. Watson
Rachel Bate
Gemma L. Bentham
Kathryn Haigh
Clinical Features and Severity of Leptospirosis Cases Reported in the Hawke’s Bay Region of New Zealand
Journal of Tropical Medicine
title Clinical Features and Severity of Leptospirosis Cases Reported in the Hawke’s Bay Region of New Zealand
title_full Clinical Features and Severity of Leptospirosis Cases Reported in the Hawke’s Bay Region of New Zealand
title_fullStr Clinical Features and Severity of Leptospirosis Cases Reported in the Hawke’s Bay Region of New Zealand
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Features and Severity of Leptospirosis Cases Reported in the Hawke’s Bay Region of New Zealand
title_short Clinical Features and Severity of Leptospirosis Cases Reported in the Hawke’s Bay Region of New Zealand
title_sort clinical features and severity of leptospirosis cases reported in the hawke s bay region of new zealand
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/5567081
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AT rachelbate clinicalfeaturesandseverityofleptospirosiscasesreportedinthehawkesbayregionofnewzealand
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