Abstract

LORENZO VILLALBA, Noel  and  SUAREZ ORTEGA, Saturnino. Presentation of Q fever simulating severe leptospirosis. Rev Cubana Med Trop [online]. 2019, vol.71, n.2, e245.  Epub Sep 30, 2019. ISSN 0375-0760.

Acute Q fever is a ubiquitous zoonosis which often presents with self-limited febrile episodes. In the presence of a septic episode with manifestations of multiple organ dysfunction, cholestatic hepatitis, respiratory distress or renal failure as the prevailing semiology, and negative culture results, leptospirosis is usually suspected. The high prevalence of Q fever cases requiring evaluation at the Internal Medicine Service of Doctor Negrín University Hospital in Gran Canaria -about 50 cases per year in an area of 400 000 inhabitants- led to the indication of serological tests for Q fever and leptospirosis in septic cases with negative culture results. In the last six years, three cases have been found of Q fever simulating leptospirosis. A rapid response to the association of steroids and doxycycline was the common feature of these three cases. The study was aimed at describing the global context of the rapid response to the treatment indicated.

Keywords : Q fever; sepsis; multiple organ dysfunction; leptospirosis.

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