We present the case of a 37-year-old male with Weil's disease, a severe form of leptospirosis, who presented without typical ecological risk factors. Initially manifesting as weakness, muscle aches, and fever, the patient rapidly deteriorated, necessitating ICU admission due to septic shock and respiratory failure. Despite initial diagnostic challenges, including normal initial imaging and inconclusive laboratory findings, a presumptive diagnosis of leptospirosis was made using Modified Faine's criteria. Empirical antibiotic treatment with doxycycline led to significant clinical improvement, highlighting the importance of early recognition and treatment in severe cases of leptospirosis. This case underscores the need for heightened clinical suspicion and the use of diagnostic scoring systems, even in atypical presentations, to facilitate timely intervention and improve patient outcomes.
Keywords: clinical case report; diagnostic reasoning; empiric therapy; leptospirosis; severe respiratory failure; weil's disease.
Copyright © 2024, Yalcin et al.