DIFFUSE ALVEOLAR HEMORRHAGE AND MYOSITIS IN THE COURSE OF LEPTOSPIROSIS ICTERO-HAEMORRHAGICA

Leptospirosis is one of the commonest causes of diffuse alveolar haemo rrhage. Despite good sensitivity to penicillin and current techniques of ventilation, there remains a considerable mortality which is partic ularly linked to the initial pulmonary disease at presentation. The au thors describe a new case of a gravely ill patient with leptospirosis and sever hypoxaemia. There was diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and myosi tis thus a bolus of corticosteroids was used over the first 24 hours c omplementary to the traditional treatment.