Outbreak of leptospirosis in children from Linares

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis seldom notified in Chile. This paper describes an outbreak that affected children who bathed in a contaminated swimming pool. 

Methods: A retrospective study of all the children who used the pool, a positive diagnosis was made when the ELISA IgM for leptospirosis was positive. The survey was analyzed using the programme EPI2002. 

Results: Of 182 exposed children, there were 91 positive cases, 90 symptomatic, of 13 hospitalizations 11 had a self limited febrile illness and 2 had meningitis. The mortality was 0%. The most frequent symptoms were fever, headache, vomiting, myalgias and diarrhea. A lower age and greater number of exposures correlated with a greater risk of infection (p < 0.001). The serovar corresponded to canicola. Sanitario measures were closure of the swimming pool and community education. 

Conclusions: In our rural population leptospirosis is probably endemic in the summer and presents with non-specific symptoms.