A case of leptospirosis with pulmonary involvement

Abstract

The frequency of pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis is not well known in Japan. A 51-year-old man admitted with fever, bloody sputum, and general severe myalgia was found in laboratory studies to have thrombocytopenia, proteinuria, renal and liver dysfunction, and positive C-reactive protein. Chest computed tomography showed multiple tiny ill-defined nodules in both lungs. Intravenous ciprofloxacin treatment (600 mg/day) ameliorated symptoms and abnormal data. After starting therapy, we learned that he had been in contacted with rodents, and he was diagnosed with leptospirosis in a microscopic agglutination test.