Bai Chay Hospital is treating 4 patients with Whitmore disease. The disease can be contracted when people come into contact with mud, soil, and water containing disease-causing bacteria.
Patient L.V.H, 52 years old, from Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, had a history of good health, was admitted to the hospital with chills, fever, and fatigue. Test results showed a high level of infection caused by the bacteria Burkholderia Pseudomallei (Whitmore). Doctors treated the patient with intravenous antibiotics according to the protocol. Currently, after more than 10 days of treatment, the patient's health is stable, and the infection index has improved.
Recently, the Tropical Diseases Center (Bach Mai Hospital) has continuously received cases with symptoms of fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, swelling and abscesses in some areas of the body.
Upon admission, the doctors at the Tropical Diseases Center diagnosed a suspected case of Whitmore's disease and quickly performed blood and pus cultures from the abscesses. Along with the urgent diagnosis, the doctors provided a treatment regimen for Whitmore's disease for the patient and closely monitored clinical signs. After the test results detected the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, the bacteria that causes Whitmore's disease (Melioidosis), the patient was explained and advised on a long-term treatment regimen to avoid recurrence.
As in the case of patient T.V.L, 58 years old in Soc Son, Hanoi, who was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia, prostate and rectal abscesses, poor appetite, and weight loss. Abscesses are infections caused by bacteria. According to the patient, there have been cases of Whitmore's disease that have resulted in death in the area where he lives.
Dr. Tran Quoc Tuan, Deputy Head of the Department of Tropical Diseases (Bai Chay Hospital) said: Patients infected with Whitmore disease who had to be hospitalized for treatment this time had all been exposed to water and mud during the process of overcoming natural disasters, cleaning up and sanitizing the living environment after the impact of storm No. 3. Symptoms include high fever, chills lasting for many days, severe infection, blood culture detected the bacteria Burkholderia Pseudomallei (Whitmore).
Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong, Director of the Center for Tropical Diseases (Bach Mai Hospital) said: Whitmore is a disease caused by bacteria called Burkholderia pseudomallei. The disease has a diverse, complex progression and is easily overlooked, so patients can die from pneumonia, blood infection and septic shock.
Whitmore's disease usually develops acutely with symptoms such as pneumonia, infection of bones and joints, nervous system, liver, spleen, prostate, sepsis, or septic shock. The disease can develop chronically with symptoms of pneumonia like tuberculosis or abscesses of many organs like staphylococcal infection.
The disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract or contact with the environment containing bacteria. Especially when there are scratches on the skin, the risk of infection is higher and the disease progresses faster.
To minimize the risk of Whitmore, Associate Professor, Dr. Do Duy Cuong recommends: “People should not come into direct contact with dirty, stagnant water for a long time, especially when there are skin wounds, scratches, bleeding; or people with many underlying diseases. Should wear protective gear when doing agricultural work to prevent infection through hands and feet. Medical staff and doctors need to ensure protection when coming into contact with sick people, to prevent infection as much as possible.”
