Leptospirosis: an infrequent cause of acute renal failure and jaundice. A clinical case and review of the literature

Abstract

Leptospirosis, a spirochaete, is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution of which human infection is accidental or recreational. The human is usually an accidental host and person to person transmission is extremely rare. It was first described in 1886 by Weil and its diagnosis has been increasing in the last few decades. We report the case of a 14 year old boy who acquired the infection while swimming in infected water. He presented fever, jaundice, thrombocytopenia, meningitis and acute non-oliguric renal failure with mild hypokaliemia and mild metabolic acidosis. He was treated with penicillin with a satisfactory evolution and without complications. Laboratory tests confirmed leptospirosis serotype icterohaemorragia. Leptospirosis should be suspected in febrile patients with jaundice and renal failure.