Abstract

1 Department of Infectious Diseases, Hopital Bichat, Paris Diderot University, Paris, France, 2 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Hopital Bichat, Paris Diderot University, Paris, France, 3 National Reference Centre on Toxoplasmosis and Biological Resource Centre Toxoplasma, EA3800, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, CHU Maison Blanche, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France, 4 INSERM UMR 1094, Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, University of Limoges, Limoges, France, 5 EA 3593, Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Cayenne Hospital, University of the Antilles and Guyana, Cayenne, French Guiana

Highlights

  • Haematological blood tests revealed a haemoglobin level of 137 g/l with signs of haemolysis, a total white blood cell count of 11.16109/L (69% granulocytes, 21% lymphocytes), and thrombocytosis (3926109/L platelets)

  • There are many diagnoses that can lead to subacute fever, hepatitis, pancreatitis, and pneumonia in a patient coming from the Amazonian region

  • Toxoplasma gondii, Herpes simplex viruses, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and Varicella-zoster virus DNA were not detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the cerebrospinal fluid

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Summary

Description of Case

A 33-year-old man living in Cayenne, French Guiana, was admitted in the Bichat hospital in Paris with a 3-week history of fever associated with dyspnea and confusion. A chest X-ray previously made in French Guiana showed an alveolar infiltrate of the middle lobe. Physical examination revealed a loss of 4 kilograms in the last month, confusion, hypotension (98/63 mmHg), tachycardia (126 beats per minute), a red but painless left eye, congestive heart failure, fine crackles in the right lung field, and a onecentimetre-wide left axillary node. Haematological blood tests revealed a haemoglobin level of 137 g/l with signs of haemolysis (elevated lactic dehydrogenase, low haptoglobin), a total white blood cell count of 11.16109/L (69% granulocytes, 21% lymphocytes), and thrombocytosis (3926109/L platelets). The blood film showed stigmata of mononucleosis syndrome. Mild hepatitis, pancreatitis, and elevated cardiac markers.

What Further Investigations Would You Perform to Make Etiological Diagnosis?
What Finally Led to Diagnosis?
How Can Hyponatremia and Hemolysis Be Explained?
Biological Characteristics
How Would You Manage the Patient?
Normal Values
Additional Molecular and Parasitological Investigations
French Guiana
Source of Infection
Findings
Conclusion
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