Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
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The 7th Interuniversity Student Scientific and Practical Conference "Rare and Common Infectious Diseases. Diagnostic Challenges (Clinical Cases)" was held at Sechenov University. RUDN University student Anastasia Bogoyavlenskaya took third place with her presentation on a case of leptospirosis.
The event brought together medical students from across the country, who presented complex cases from their practice, as well as effective diagnostic and treatment methods. A total of 14 presentations were made.
New strains of viruses
Conference participants noted that the topic of infectious diseases remains relevant even after the COVID-19 pandemic. Rare infections are recorded annually, and new strains of common viruses are identified, making it difficult to make a timely and accurate diagnosis. Most presentations described situations where the initial diagnosis turned out to be incorrect, and the patient was referred to an infectious disease specialist after treatment for another condition had failed.
Each clinical case presented demonstrated the importance of timely medical care and the ability of a specialist to find the right solution at a critical moment.
To participate in the conference, students submitted abstracts of their papers. A panel of judges evaluated them remotely on a five-point scale, taking into account the originality of the research, the validity and consistency of the work, the quality and presentation of the results, and the relevance of the topic. The oral presentation, held on February 19, was assessed based on the quality of the research (novelty, practical significance, research design, and the author's personal contribution), the quality of the presentation (the logic, brevity, and clarity of the paper, adherence to the time limit), and the ability to moderate the discussion (the correct understanding of the questions, the appropriateness and logicality of the answers). Following the conference, a collection of scientific papers is planned to be published, which will include the abstracts that successfully passed the expert panel's remote evaluation.
Fish bite
The report by Anastasia Bogoyavlenskaya, a sixth-year student majoring in General Medicine at RUDN University, focuses on the clinical case of a patient with leptospirosis.
"Considering that the disease is not endemic to the Moscow region, many practicing physicians may not be sufficiently familiar with it. However, cases of leptospirosis do occur, and prompt diagnosis is critical for immediate hospitalization and appropriate treatment," explained Anastasia Bogoyavlenskaya.
The student added that the report was initially prepared for a conference to present her university, but she is now continuing to work with this clinical material. Anastasia said she had a positive experience participating in the event, and any outcome was both experience in public speaking and an opportunity for professional growth. Despite her nervousness, her supervisor's support gave her confidence. The jury was particularly interested in the route of infection in the patient described.
"The patient became infected through a pike bite. This is unusual, as leptospires typically enter the body through microtrauma in the skin or mucous membranes upon contact with water contaminated with rodent urine. However, the pike, being a predator, could have infected its mouth with leptospires by eating infected rodents (such as water voles), which resulted in the infection being transmitted to the patient during the bite. This mechanism resonated with the jury, who recalled a similar case of infection during the cutting of a fish (pike) containing a whole rat," Anastasia explained.
Making a diagnosis
According to the girl, the range of differential diagnoses at the pre-hospital stage was extremely broad. The patient was suspected of having influenza, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, opisthorchiasis, and other illnesses. The situation was complicated by the development of pneumonia, which doctors diagnosed as a secondary viral infection arising from generalized leptospirosis and underlying immunosuppression.
"Verification of the diagnosis was made possible by a comprehensive serological examination. By using a process of elimination and subsequent confirmation using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we were able to detect specific immunoglobulins to leptospirosis, which allowed us to confirm the etiology of the disease," the student explained.
Anastasia expressed her sincere gratitude for the support and assistance in preparing the work to her supervisors: Olga Aleksandrovna Burgasova, Vera Borisovna Tetova, and her scientific director Rasim Rinatovich Khodzhibekov.
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