Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of leptospirosis in the Quindío department (2005-2006)

Objective. To describe the symptoms, clinical laboratory results and outcome of patients with human leptospirosis in department of Quindío, during two years (2005-2006) Methods. Case series Results. 38 cases were confirmed in 2005 and 31 in 2006. Mortality occurred in 12% in 2005 and in 3% of the cases in 2006. The most important symptoms were fever, myalgies and headache. The MAT serological assay was the confirmatory test in all cases.The icterohemorragic serovar was the most frequent and it was found in the majority of the mortal cases. In 75% there was hepatic dysfunction as revealed by laboratory tests and in 70% of patients there was a rise in levels of creatin kynases enzymes. Conclusions. Contrary to common belief, clinical leptospirosis in Quindío was not found in rural but in urban population. Between the two years in Quindío there were improvements in diagnosis and clinical treatment, leading to an important reduction in mortality.