Co-infection with hepatitis a and leptospirosis in an adult with jaundice and acute febrile illness

Coinfección por hepatitis a y leptospirosis en un adulto con enfermedad febril aguda e ictericia

Introduction: coinfection with hepatitis A and leptospirosis is a frequent cause of febrile jaundice syndrome in Colombia, characterized by fever, jaundice and findings compatible with acute hepatitis. Transmission of hepatitis A is by fecal-oral route while leptospirosis results from exposure to certain animals. Treatment of hepatitis A focuses on supportive measures while that of leptospirosis is based on prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy. Co-infection with the two entities is rare.  Case presentation: patient who attended the emergency department with clinical and laboratory findings compatible with acute hepatitis A. After a torpid progression, an active search for other causes allowed finding a co-infection with leptospirosis. Discussion and conclusions: the abovementioned conditions were analyzed and a literature review was conducted. The few reports on this subject were discussed, highlighting this report for its contribution to global statistics and the importance of considering this diagnosis in the ER in a patient with a history of fever persisting for more than seven days, in order to reduce healthcare costs and to improve prognosis of patients.

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