Anicteric leptospirosis: A frequently forgotten disease

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infectious disease caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. It is frequently overlooked, and this is particularly the case with its anicteric form. However, an early diagnosis and treatment is crucial for the prognosis of the disease. In this report, we present a case of anicteric leptospirosis. A 35-year-old female presented to the emergency service complaining of fever, myalgia, and abdominal pain. Laboratory investigations revealed thrombocytopenia, elevated total bilirubin, high lactate dehydrogenase, and increased blood urea nitrogen (35 mg/dL) and creatinine (3.3 mg/dL) levels. Subsequently, it was thought that the illness might be leptospirosis according to the patient’s clinical situation and laboratory findings. Also, it was found that the Leptospira microagglutination test was positive leading to the confirmation of leptospirosis. The patient responded well to ceftriaxone therapy. The disease has various clinical presentations ranging from a mild influenza-like form to a severe potentially fatal illness accompanied by multiorgan failure. We have presented a rare case of “Anicteric leptospirosis” and have observed the diagnosis and treatment methods in the light of the available literature.