Epidemiological and clinical features of leptospirosis in a highly endemic area over three time periods
| Autor: | Josipa Habuš, Gordana Kolaric-Sviben, Zdenka Peršić, Ljiljana Mišić-Majerus, Zrinka Štritof, Nenad Turk, Vesna Mađarić, Nevenka Bujić, Silvijo Vince |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
0301 basic medicine
Adult Male medicine.medical_specialty Veterinary medicine Adolescent Endemic Diseases Croatia 030231 tropical medicine 030106 microbiology Disease Serogroup Severity of Illness Index 03 medical and health sciences Young Adult 0302 clinical medicine Older patients Patient age Epidemiology medicine Humans Statistical analysis Leptospirosis Child Aged Retrospective Studies Leptospira business.industry Incidence (epidemiology) Incidence Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Age Factors Infant Newborn Endemic area Infant Agriculture Middle Aged medicine.disease Infectious Diseases Child Preschool leptospirosis epidemiology clinical features Koprivnica – Križevci County Croatia Parasitology Female Seasons business Demography |
| DOI: | 10.1111/tmi.12967 |
| Popis: | Objectives To present the features of human leptospirosis over three time periods (1970-1975; 2000-2005; 2010-2015), to compare the collected data and determine whether the incidence, seasonal and spatial distribution, prevalence of presumptive infective serogroups and clinical features have changed over the last 50 years. Methods Epidemiological and clinical data obtained from patients hospitalized and treated in a focus of leptospirosis, Koprivnica-Križevci County in Croatia, were analysed. Results We observed a steady decline in the overall incidence of leptospirosis and a change in the patient age distribution, with the age ratio changing in favour of middle-aged and older patients. Although leptospirosis was most frequently diagnosed in August in all time periods, the number of cases increased in autumn. The most prevalent serogroup during the first and the second time period was Icterohaemorhagiae, while in the third time period the serogroup Australis prevailed. We also noted an increase in the number of severe clinical manifestations. Conclusions This retrospective research demonstrates a continuous decline in the incidence of human leptospirosis in Croatia. The pattern of disease has changed from predominantly mild clinical forms observed in children to more severe clinical forms observed in middle-aged to older patients, especially those working in agriculture. Additional epidemiological changes included an increase in the number of cases during the autumn months and changes in prevailing serogroups. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between the severity of the clinical picture, patient age and presumed sources of infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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