Weil's disease in a patient living in Tokyo

Abstract

A 56-year-old previously healthy man was admitted to our hospital for disordered consciousness, anuria, and severe jaundice. The patient had not travelled recently, but he worked at a fish market in Tokyo. From his history and clinical observation we suspected Weil's disease and started the corresponding treatment. Leptospira infection was ultimately confirmed by a serological study. Our report raises the awareness that leptospirosis is not only a tropic disease, but also it can be a disease in an urban setting in Japan for people who are at risk of exposure. © 2009 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.