report of 102 patients with leptospirosis in Mazandaran province between 2003 and 2008

Background and Leptospirosis is an infrequent zoometric bacterial disease which is caused by pathogenic bacteria called Leptospira. The risk factors of the disease include living in tropical and rural areas, contact with contaminated water, living near sewers and sanitation work. The disease may cause symptoms such as chills and fever, severe headache and myalgia. Costal region of Caspian Lake has desirable conditions for occurrence of this disease. The aim of this research is to study this disease in the North of Iran, by using and analyzing a 6-year set of recorded cases in Mazandaran province between 2003 and 2008, that provides more completed information. This study is a descriptive, retrospective (case series) study. All of the recorded information concerning to patients with leptospirosis in Mazandaran Health centre from 2003 to 2008 were collected and checklist forms were completed, followed by data related to three characteristics including patients, living conditions and then the disease was analyzed.Of the 102 patients, 76.5% were males, 46.6% were farmers and the mean age was 48.8 + 15.5. The prevalence of the disease was at the highest in 2007 and in summer seasons. The most common symptoms were fever (74.5%), myalgia (68.6%) and icter (47.1%). The greatest number of the cases was from Ghaemshahr city (37.3%), the majority of the cases (88.2%) had history of working farm. Over-all, 97.1% of the patients were cured. According to the findings, leptospirsis affects farmers in their working season in Mazandaran province. It is necessary to provide information to the medical practitioners, especially general practitioners and also, to develop diagnostic and therapeutic facilities in the province.