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Published 1 June 2009
Cite this as: BMJ Case Reports 2009 [doi:10.1136/bcr.01.2009.1437]
Copyright © 2009 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

Reminder of important clinical lesson

The farmer who didn’t need a wheel barrow

Willibald Hochholzer, Christina Orasch, Stefanie Huber, Christian Arranto, Sabina Hunziker

University Hospital Basel, Department of Internal Medicine, Petersgraben 4, Basel, 4031, Switzerland

Correspondence to:
Willibald Hochholzer, hochholzerw{at}uhbs.ch

SUMMARY

We report the difficulties encountered in diagnosing leptospirosis in an 85-year-old man who presented with non-specific signs and symptoms. Initially, a wide haematologic and oncologic work-up without significant results was performed, as symptoms of several organ dysfunctions emerged and the clinical course showed a rapid deterioration. After several days without a definite diagnosis, the infection was finally detected after reviewing all results and considering the patient’s profession as a farmer. After receiving appropriate antibiotic treatment the patient recovered fully.


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