Junctional rhythm: A rare sign in leptospirosis

• Published in: Indian journal of critical care medicine Vol. 22; no. 12; pp. 889 - 891
• Main Authors: Warrier, Rachana, Singh, Santosh, Singh, Sarvinder, Tentu, Ajai, Singh, Nidhi, Dash, Chinmaya, Singh, Vani
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.12.2018; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd
• Subjects: Antibiotics; Cardiac arrhythmia; Case Report; Case studies; Ceftriaxone; Ceftriaxone sodium; Diagnosis; Dosage and administration; Drug therapy; Electrocardiography; Fever; Hepatitis; Leptospirosis; Patients; Urine; Zoonoses; India; leptospirosis; Weil's disease; Atrioventricular block; junctional rhythm
• ISSN: 0972-5229; 1998-359X
• DOI: 10.4103/ijccm.IJCCM_437_18

Leptospirosis is an important re-emerging infectious disease. Leptospirosis has been estimated to affect tens of millions of humans annually with a case fatality rate ranging from 5% to 25%; however, it is underreported due to the lack of clinical suspicion and barriers to diagnostic capacity. A 33-year-old healthy male presented with a history of fever of 2-day duration. His examination revealed icterus. His workup did not show any significant findings except for a mild transaminitis and a rise in serum creatinine by 0.5 mg/dl. Later, the patient developed bradycardia. An ELISA test for Leptospira antibodies was positive. The patient recovered after a course of intravenous antibiotics. Leptospirosis should be considered early in the diagnosis of any patient who presents with acute, nonspecific febrile illness with multiorgan involvement. Our case had an atypical presentation with involvement of the cardiovascular system in the form of junctional rhythm.