Smartest Doc
A Melioidosis Patient Presenting with Brainstem Signs in the Emergency Department
The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 04/26/2012
Kung CT et al. – Systemic melioidosis with lung, pancreas, urogenic tract, and brainstem involvement was diagnosed. Three weeks after admission, the patient died from a sudden onset of apnea and asystole. In light of this case, patients with identifiable risk factors, especially underlying diabetes, a history of positive soil contact, and those who lived in an endemic area or ever traveled to an endemic area, and who present themselves with fever and neurologic deficit or multi–organ involvement, should have melioidosis considered in the differential diagnosis.
