Leptospirosis with neurological complications in pediatrics

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of global relevance, whose clinical presentation is highly variable and may include atypical neurological complications, especially in endemic areas. The objective of this study was to describe a clinical case of leptospirosis with neurological complications in a 10-year-old male patient living in a rural area of Ecuador. A prospective case report was conducted, systematically collecting clinical, paraclinical, and imaging data to characterize the progression of the condition and the response to antibiotic treatment. The results show that, despite the absence of severe hepatic or renal involvement, the patient presented significant muscle weakness and difficulty walking, with laboratory findings confirming an active inflammatory process and a positive serology for Leptospira. Early intervention with Ceftriaxone was associated with a rapid recovery of motor function, highlighting the importance of timely diagnosis and individualized management in the context of leptospirosis with neurological manifestations. The conclusions of this study emphasize the need to consider leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis of atypical neurological conditions in pediatric populations and reinforce the effectiveness of early antibiotic treatment in reversing clinical progression, providing valuable evidence for clinical practice in endemic areas.