Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis (also known as Weil's

disease), canicola fever, cane field fever, nanukayami
fever, 7-day fever, Rat Catcher's Yellows, Fort Bragg
fever, black jaundice, and Pretibial fever is caused
by infection with bacteria of the genus Leptospira and
affects humans as well as other animals.

Leptospirosis is among the world's most
common diseases that transmits from animals to
people (zoonosis). The infection is commonly
transmitted to humans by allowing water that has
been contaminated by animal urine to come in contact
with unhealed breaks in the skin, the eyes, or with
the mucous membranes.
After flooding, large outbreaks of
leptospirosis may occur. According to WHO
(World Health Organization), approximately 10
million people are thought to come down w/
leptospirosis.
MODE OF
TRANSMISSION
Through contact of the skin , especially in
open wounds with water, moist soil or
vegetation contaminated with urine of infected
host.
Leptospirosis is transmitted by the urine of
an infected animal, and is contagious as long as
the urine is still moist. Rats, mice, and moles
are important primary hostsbut a wide range
of other mammals including dogs, deer, rabbits,
hedgehogs, cows, sheep, raccoons, opossums,
skunks, and certain marine mammals carry and
transmit the disease as secondary hosts.
The incidence of leptospirosis correlates
directly with the amount of rainfall, making it
seasonal in temperate climates and year-round in
tropical climates. Leptospirosis also transmits via
the semen of infected animals.

Although more common in tropical areas, non-tropical
urban conglomerations with low levels of sanitation are seeing
more cases, especially during the summer and autumn months.
Most of the urban areas affected involve large cities in the
developing world.

Types of Leptospirosis, there are two main types:
Mild Leptospirosis - the patient experiences muscle pains,
chills and possibly a headache. 90% of cases are of this type.

Severe Leptospirosis - can be life-threatening. There is a risk
of organ failure and internal hemorrhaging. This occurs when
the bacterium infects the kidneys, liver and other major organs.
Experts are not sure why some patients develop the severe form
- people who are already very ill, such as those with pneumonia,
young children under five, and elderly individuals are more likely
to suffer from severe Leptospirosis.

Symptoms can take 2 - 26 days
(average 10 days) to develop, and may
include:
1. Dry cough
2. Fever
3. Headache
4. Muscle pain
5. Nausea
6. vomiting
7. diarrhea
8. Shaking chills

Signs and Symptoms
Less common symptoms include:
1. Abdominal pain
2. Abnormal lung sounds
3. Bone pain
4. Conjunctivitis
5. Enlarged lymph glands
6. Enlarged spleen or liver
7. Joint aches
8. Muscle rigidity
9. Muscle tenderness
10.Skin rash
11.Sore throat

Treatment
Leptospirosis is treated primarily with antimicrobial therapy.
Hospitalized patients should be treated with intravenous penicillin
G therapy, the treatment of choice.

Medications to treat leptospirosis include:
Ampicillin
Azithromycin
Ceftriaxone
Doxycycline- may be used as prophylaxis, 200-250mg once
a week.
Penicillin

PREVENTION
Avoiding contact with animal
excrement, good hygiene, and avoiding
contaminated water and soil are other
ways to reduce the chance of getting
leptospirosis.