A Rare Presentation of Whitmore’s Disease (Melioidosis) with Multisystem Abscess in a Diabetic Patient with Intractable Hiccups

Whitmore’s disease (Melioidosis) is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei), a gram-negative bacterium with high pathogenicity. The disease manifests in various forms, ranging from pneumonia or localised abscesses to acute septicaemia or arthritis. Culture and sensitivity tests are the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Vuppala Rachana, Vignessh Raveekumaran
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
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Online Access:https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/20923/76258_CE[Ra1]_F(SHU)_QC(PS_SS)_PF1(AG_SL)_PFA(IS)_PB(AG_IS)_PN(IS).pdf
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Summary:Whitmore’s disease (Melioidosis) is caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei (B. pseudomallei), a gram-negative bacterium with high pathogenicity. The disease manifests in various forms, ranging from pneumonia or localised abscesses to acute septicaemia or arthritis. Culture and sensitivity tests are the gold standards for diagnosis. For treatment, ceftazidime or meropenem is recommended during the intensive phase (10-14 days), while oral co-trimoxazole is the drug of choice for the eradication phase (3-6 months). Surgical drainage of abscesses plays an important role in the management of melioidosis. However, the occurrence of multisystem abscesses is very rare. Hereby, authors report a case of a 63-year-old female with a known history of diabetes who presented with fever and hiccups for 40 days, deranged liver function tests, and leukocytosis. A Computed Tomography (CT) scan revealed lung and liver abscesses, and the culture yielded B. pseudomallei. The patient was diagnosed with melioidosis, treated with antibiotics, and subsequently discharged.
ISSN:2249-782X
0973-709X