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Clinical case series: Challenges in diagnosis and treatment of Vector‑borne diseases in the Balkans
Moderator: Dr. Dejan Jakimovski
This clinical case series examines a selection of patients diagnosed with various vector-borne diseases across multiple Balkan countries, highlighting the multifaceted challenges faced in diagnosis and treatment. The cases represent conditions transmitted primarily by ticks, mosquitoes, and sandflies, including but not limited to Lyme borreliosis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, West Nile virus infection, and leishmaniasis.
Diagnostic Challenges:
The cases illustrate significant obstacles in early and accurate diagnosis due to nonspecific clinical presentations, co-infections, and limited access to sensitive laboratory diagnostic tools in some regions. Serological cross-reactivity and delays in molecular testing further complicate timely identification of specific pathogens. Variability in clinical manifestations among patients underscores the need for heightened clinical awareness and comprehensive differential diagnosis protocols.
Treatment Challenges:
Therapeutic management is complicated by the diversity of causative agents, variable disease progression, and regional differences in pathogen resistance patterns. Limited availability of specific antiviral or antiparasitic agents in certain healthcare settings impedes optimal treatment. Moreover, delays in diagnosis often correlate with increased disease severity, complicating treatment outcomes. Supportive care and management of complications remain pivotal but resource-intensive components.
Case Outcomes and Recommendations:
The series demonstrates the importance of integrated multidisciplinary approaches involving clinicians, microbiologists, and public health specialists to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy. Emphasis is placed on strengthening laboratory capacity, adopting standardized treatment protocols tailored to local epidemiology, and promoting surveillance for emerging vector-borne threats. Early recognition and prompt intervention are critical to mitigating morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases.
This collection of clinical cases provides valuable insights into persistent gaps and informs strategies to improve management of vector-borne diseases in the Balkan region.
Moderator: Dr. Dejan Jakimovski
This clinical case series examines a selection of patients diagnosed with various vector-borne diseases across multiple Balkan countries, highlighting the multifaceted challenges faced in diagnosis and treatment. The cases represent conditions transmitted primarily by ticks, mosquitoes, and sandflies, including but not limited to Lyme borreliosis, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, West Nile virus infection, and leishmaniasis.
Diagnostic Challenges:
The cases illustrate significant obstacles in early and accurate diagnosis due to nonspecific clinical presentations, co-infections, and limited access to sensitive laboratory diagnostic tools in some regions. Serological cross-reactivity and delays in molecular testing further complicate timely identification of specific pathogens. Variability in clinical manifestations among patients underscores the need for heightened clinical awareness and comprehensive differential diagnosis protocols.
Treatment Challenges:
Therapeutic management is complicated by the diversity of causative agents, variable disease progression, and regional differences in pathogen resistance patterns. Limited availability of specific antiviral or antiparasitic agents in certain healthcare settings impedes optimal treatment. Moreover, delays in diagnosis often correlate with increased disease severity, complicating treatment outcomes. Supportive care and management of complications remain pivotal but resource-intensive components.
Case Outcomes and Recommendations:
The series demonstrates the importance of integrated multidisciplinary approaches involving clinicians, microbiologists, and public health specialists to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment efficacy. Emphasis is placed on strengthening laboratory capacity, adopting standardized treatment protocols tailored to local epidemiology, and promoting surveillance for emerging vector-borne threats. Early recognition and prompt intervention are critical to mitigating morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases.
This collection of clinical cases provides valuable insights into persistent gaps and informs strategies to improve management of vector-borne diseases in the Balkan region.