LEPTOSPIROSIS PRESENTING AS ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME: A RARE PHENOMENON

Ashutosh Tiwari* and Sudha Kansal

ABSTRACT

Leptospirosis, a self-limiting zoonosis, presents with significant complications and high mortality rates. Although pulmonary symptoms and signs in patients with leptospirosis have been infrequently described, the scenario has changed in recent years, with cases of severe hemoptysis and acute respiratory failure being described. When acute respiratory failure is present, dyspnea, pulmonary edema, and alveolar and interstitial hemorrhages are common clinical-pathological features. Despite considerable knowledge about this disease, questions on its clinical presentation and evolution still need to be addressed. We here report a case of Leptospirosis presenting as acute respiratory distress, which is a rare association or clinical presentation of the disease, yet an extremely crucial one to be highlighted upon.

Keywords: Leptospirosis, a self-limiting zoonosis, presents with significant complications and high mortality rates.