On May 5, People's Hospital 115 informed that the unit had received a male patient (70 years old) with a 5-day fever of unknown cause, decreased platelets and increased liver enzymes. This causes many doubts and makes diagnosis difficult.
Common causes in Vietnam such as malaria and dengue fever have been quickly eliminated through testing and clinical examination. However, in the patient, the fever was persistent and biological markers were unusually progressive.
Exploiting the medical history, the patient said that about 2 weeks ago, he went to the forest and was bitten by a child-like animal on the toes. After that, the wound bled for a long time but was only treated roughly.
This is an important clinical suggestion because insects or bloodsuckers such as reptiles, geese, etc. in the forest can carry disease-causing bacteria. Biet scars are the gateway for bacteria to invade when the skin is damaged.
The patient was diagnosed with sepsis and started treatment with 2 types of antibiotics to cover up common bacterial pathogens.
After 2 days, the patient's fever stopped, platelets increased again, and liver enzymes gradually decreased to nearly normal levels. After 5 days, the blood culture results were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria.
People's Hospital 115 said that the risk of secondary infections after being stung by insects is not common, but it is not uncommon. In particular, Klebsiella pneumoniae is a highly toxic gram- negative bacteria that can cause dangerous sepsis.
Insects such as reptiles, seaweed, forest mosquitoes... can be intermediaries carrying bacteria. When the skin is torn, the bacteria will Infect if not treated properly.
When going to the forest, you should equip yourself with protective measures to prevent insects or blood-taking animals from biting. When bitten by insects, it is necessary to wash the wound with clean water and soap, monitor for signs of infection such as redness, rash, fever, etc.
If you have unusual symptoms such as fever, fatigue, unusual testing, go to a medical facility immediately for timely diagnosis and treatment. In particular, in the elderly or people with underlying diseases, the risk of sepsis is higher and they need to be vigilant.
