Clinical manifestations of co-infection with malaria and leptospirosis

Abstract

Though both malaria and leptospirosis are frequent in the tropics, co-infections are under-recognized due to overlapping of clinical features. Here, we reviewed clinical manifestations of published co-infection along with our three cases. Out of a total of 18 patients, nine patients (50%) required ICU admission. Almost all patients had prodromal symptoms in the form of fever, headache and myalgia. Seven patients (37%) had altered sensorium, three patients (17%) had hypotension at admission, and 11 patients (61%) had acute kidney injury (AKI). Pulmonary manifestations in the form of pulmonary bleeding were present in four cases (22%). Three (17%) patients had acute lung injury/ acute respiratory distress syndrome. Almost 55% patients had DIC in the form of altered prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and low fibrinogen level. Four patients (22%) had subconjuctival suffusion, two of them had haematuria, while one presented with nasal bleeding. All patients had altered liver function tests. Of all the 18 patients, 17 (94%) survived, while one died.