Title
Hantavirus infection mimicking leptospirosis: How long are we going to rely on clinical suspicion?
Date Issued
01 January 2014
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Dahanayaka N.
Agampodi S.
Bandaranayaka A.
Priyankara S.
Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
Publisher(s)
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
Abstract
Hantavirus infections and leptospirosis can have similar clinical and epidemiological features. We present here a case study of a young farmer with fever during the post-flood leptospirosis outbreak in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, in 2011. He presented with a classical clinical picture of leptospirosis and was managed and notified as a case of leptospirosis. Retrospective analysis of a stored serum sample confirmed acute hantavirus infection. Diagnosis of newly identified or emerging infectious diseases such as hantavirus infection is challenging due to the lack of diagnostic facilities in developing countries. This case highlights the need for improving diagnostic facilities, educating medical staff, and conducting population-based prospective studies on hantavirus infections in Sri Lanka. © 2014 Dahanayaka et al.
Start page
1072
End page
1075
Volume
8
Issue
8
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Enfermedades infecciosas Virología Medicina tropical
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84906055853
PubMed ID
Source
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
ISSN of the container
20366590
Sponsor(s)
National Institutes of Health - NIH Fogarty International Center - D43TW007120 - FIC
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus