Spotted fever rickettsioses causing myocarditis and ARDS: a case from Sri Lanka.

BACKGROUND: Spotted fever group of rickettsial infections are emerging in Sri Lanka. We describe a patient with rapidly progressing ARDS and myocarditis secondary to spotted fever caused by Rickettsia conorii. ARDS and myocarditis are rare complications of Rickettsia conorii infections and only a few cases are reported to date. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53 years old manual worker presented with fever for 5 days and a skin rash. He was in circulatory failure on admission and developed severe hypoxaemia with gross changes in chest radiograph by next day requiring assisted ventilation. He had myocarditis causing left ventricular failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome. He was confirmed to have spotted fever rickettsial infection with rising titre of indirect immunofluorescence antibodies to Ricketssia conorii and made a complete recovery with appropriate antibiotic therapy and supportive care. CONCLUSION: Rickettsial infections can present with diverse manifestations. Even the patients with severe organ involvements such as myocarditis and ARDS can be completely cured if timely identified and treated.

A Rare Observation of Brachymetacarpia and Brachymetatarsia in a Patient with Primary Idiopathic Hypoparathyroidism.

Brachymetacarpia and brachymetatarsia are unique clinical entities associated with numerous rare conditions. Primary hypoparathyroidism is distinct from pseudohypoparathyroidism and pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism by lacking skeletal changes such as short metacarpals or metatarsals. Here, we present a case of a 64-year-old patient with brachymetacarpia and brachymetatarsia presented with hypocalcemic symptoms and signs, bilateral cataracts, and basal ganglia calcifications, subsequently diagnosed with idiopathic primary hypoparathyroidism. This is a rare case describing such an infrequent observation of brachymetacarpia and brachymetatarsia in primary idiopathic hypoparathyroidism.

Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Liver abscess has formerly been a polymicrobial infection. Currently, liver abscess due to Klebsiella pneumoniae is increasingly reported, predominantly in Southeast Asia for unknown reasons. Liver abscess due to Klebsiella pneumonia has never been previously reported in Sri Lanka. CASE PRESENTATION: A 63-year-old Sinhalese man with diabetes mellitus and a poor glycemic control presented with fever, loose stools, and loss of appetite of 1 week's duration. An examination was unremarkable apart from a mild non-tender hepatomegaly. Investigations indicated a septic process with neutrophil leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and raised inflammatory markers with acute kidney injury. Sonography of his abdomen revealed a large liver abscess with two blood cultures positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. He made a complete recovery following aspiration of the abscess and treatment with intravenously administered ceftriaxone. CONCLUSION: Liver abscess due to Klebsiella pneumoniae is an emerging infection and most commonly reported from Southeast Asia. In Sri Lanka, further studies are necessary to understand the epidemiology and modes of spread. Furthermore, a high index of suspicion is essential as early detection is the key to successful treatment and prevention of complications.

Epidemiology, clinical profile and management issues of cobra (Naja naja) bites in Sri Lanka: first authenticated case series.

In Sri Lanka, the Spectacled cobra (Naja naja) inflicts fatal bites. This hospital-based prospective study describes 25 cases of proven cobra bites, including 10 (40%) males and 15 (60%) females with a median age of 36 years (range 13-70 years). In 22 cases (88%) bites occurred in the daytime and in 13 cases (52%) they occurred at the victim's home compound. The site of the bite was the upper limb in 10 cases (40%), and 12 patients (48%) had applied a tourniquet. There were 5 dry bites (20%), 20 local reactions (80%), 9 cases of neurotoxicity (36%) and 3 cases of coagulopathy (12%). Eight patients (32%) had severe local necrosis-five underwent desloughing and skin grafting and two (including one of the above) had fasciotomy and compartmental decompression of the upper limb. Two patients died (case fatality rate 8%; 95% CI 0.98-26.03) due to rapidly spreading necrosis of the upper limb. Four patients (16%; 95% CI 4.53-36.08) developed respiratory paralysis; their median time from bite to assisted ventilation was 2h (range 2-5h) and the median duration of ventilation was 24h (range 18-24h). Envenomed patients received Indian polyvalent antivenom. The findings highlight the magnitude of local necrosis, respiratory paralysis and antivenom failure in Spectacled cobra bite in Sri Lanka. Coagulopathy requires verification with robust laboratory tests.