# Leptospirosis-Associated Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in Pregnancy: A Rare Presentation

**Authors:** Shivani Singh, Neema Acharya, Megha Karnik, Bingu Shiv kiran Reddy, Tejal Waghe, Aishwarya Beedkar

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61809 · Cureus · 2024-06-06

## TL;DR

A pregnant woman with leptospirosis developed ARDS but recovered after timely treatment and cesarean delivery.

## Contribution

Highlights a rare case of leptospirosis-associated ARDS in pregnancy and emphasizes the need for prompt diagnosis and multidisciplinary care.

## Key findings

- Leptospirosis can present as ARDS in pregnancy with fever and dyspnea.
- Timely antibiotic therapy and emergency cesarean improved maternal and neonatal outcomes.
- Multidisciplinary management is crucial for leptospirosis in pregnant patients.

## Abstract

Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira, poses unique challenges in pregnancy due to its varied clinical presentation and potential adverse outcomes for both mother and fetus. We present a case of a 24-year-old primigravida at 35 weeks of gestation who presented with fever, dyspnea, and abdominal pain, and was ultimately diagnosed with leptospirosis complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Prompt initiation of antibiotic therapy, supportive care, and timely delivery via emergency cesarean section led to favorable maternal and neonatal outcomes. This case report underscores the importance of considering leptospirosis in pregnant patients presenting with similar symptoms, particularly in endemic regions, and highlights the critical role of multidisciplinary management in optimizing outcomes.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** leptospirosis (MONDO:0005825), acute respiratory distress syndrome (MONDO:0006502), ARDS (MONDO:0006502)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** dyspnea (MESH:D004417), ARDS (MESH:D012128), Leptospirosis (MESH:D007922), fever (MESH:D005334), abdominal pain (MESH:D015746)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Leptospira (genus) [taxon 171]

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11227288/full.md

## Figures

1 figure with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11227288/full.md

## References

21 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11227288/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC11227288