A Correlation between Pulmonary Involvement of Acute Febrile Illness with High Incidence during the Fall and C-reactive Protein.
10.4046/trd.2009.66.2.116
- Author:
Go Woon KIM
1
;
Woo Jin LEE
;
Won Ki HONG
;
Sung Hoa LEE
;
Chang Youl LEE
;
Myung Goo LEE
;
In Gyu HYUN
;
Ki Suck JUNG
Author Information
1. Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea. doclcy@hallym.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Tsutsugamushi;
Leptospirosis;
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome;
Pumonary involvement;
C-reactive protein
- MeSH:
C-Reactive Protein;
Disease Outbreaks;
Heart;
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome;
Humans;
Incidence;
Critical Care;
Korea;
Leptospirosis;
Lung Diseases, Interstitial;
Patient Selection;
Pleural Effusion;
Pulmonary Edema;
Retrospective Studies;
Scrub Typhus
- From:Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
2009;66(2):116-121
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Tsutsugamushi, leptospirosis and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) are the prevalent diseases among the acute febrile illnesses in Korea. Pulmonary involvement in the patients with these diseases remains poorly recognized in endemic regions, and this is despite reports of recent outbreaks and epidemic episodes. Pulmonary involvement and a higher CRP level as clinical manifestations show a more severe form of infection. The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation of pulmonary involvement and the CRP level in patients with acute febrile illnesses. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 105 patients who were diagnosed with tsutsugamushi, HFRS and leptospirosis from January 2002 to May 2008 in Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital. The radiographic images were retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists. We analyzed the pulmonary complications of the patients with these febrile diseases and we checked the CRP level at admission. RESULTS: The study included 105 patients who were diagnosed with febrile diseases. Of these patients, 32 patients had hantaan, 10 patients had leptospirosis and 63 patients had tsutsugamushi disease. 42 (40%) patients had pulmonary complications, 20 patients had pulmonary edema, 20 patients had pleural effusion and 2 patients had interstitial pneumonitis. The patients with pulmonary involvement showed a more severe form of infection and a higher CRP level than that of those patients without pulmonary involvement (p=0.0073). CONCLUSION: Pulmonary involvement in patients with acute febrile diseases might be correlated with a higher CRP level. Identification of this factor on admission might provide useful selection criteria for the patients who need early intensive care.
