Leptospirosis is an acute infectious disease resulting from contact with tissues of an infected animal, especially rats and small rodents, or from contaminated water. Individuals at risk- Sewer workers, abattoir workers, workers in fishing industry, recreational water users, laboratory workers. Leptospirosis is primarily an occupational disease that affects farmers, sewer workers or others whose occupation involves contact with animals, especially rats. Leptospirosis is spread mainly by the urine of infected animals and is generally not transmitted from person to person.

Muscular and Circulatory systems are usually affected

Skin, Blood, Liver, Muscles are the main bodyparts affected

Leptospirosis is caused by an infection with the bacterium Leptospira interrogans. The bacteria are spread through contact with urine from infected animals. Persons at an increased risk for leptospirosis include farmers, miners, animal health care workers, fish farmers and processors, sewage and canal workers, cane harvesters, and soldiers. High risk activities include care of pets, hunting, trail biking, freshwater swimming, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, and participating in sports in muddy fields.

Symptoms of Leptospira infection occur within 7-12 days following exposure to the bacteria. Because the symptoms can be nonspecific, most people who have antibodies to Leptospira do not remember having had an illness. 85 to 90% of the cases are not serious and clear up on their own. Mild illness:

Fever Headache Myalgia (muscle pain) Rash Meningeal symptoms

Weil’s syndrome- severe form of leptospirosis

Fever Haematemesis (Vomiting of blood) Elena (black tarry stools)

Leptospirosis can be diagnosed and treated by doctors who specialize in infectious diseases. During the bacteremic phase of the disease, the symptoms are relatively nonspecific. This often causes an initial misdiagnosis because many diseases have similar symptoms to leptospirosis. The later symptoms of Jaundice and Kidney failure together with the bacteremic phase symptoms suggest leptospirosis. Blood samples will be tested to look for antibodies to Leptospira interrogans. Blood samples taken over a period of a few days would show an increase in the number of antibodies. Isolating Leptospira bacteria from Blood, cerebrospinal fluid (performed by spinal tap), and urine samples is diagnostic of leptospirosis. It may take six weeks for Leptospira to grow in laboratory media. Most insurance companies would cover the diagnosis and treatment of this infection.

It is generally agreed that antibiotic treatment during the first few days of illness is helpful. However, leptospirosis is often not diagnosed until the later stages of illness. The benefit of antibiotic treatment in the later stages of disease is controversial. A rare complication of antibiotic therapy for leptospirosis is the occurrence of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, which is characterized by fever, chills, Headache, and muscle pain. Patients with severe illness will require hospitalization for treatment and monitoring. Medication or other treatment for pain, fever, Vomiting, fluid loss, bleeding, mental changes, and low blood pressure may be provided. Patients with Kidney failure will require hemodialysis to remove waste products from the blood.

Persons who are at an extremely high risk (such as soldiers who are training in wetlands) can be pretreated with 200 mg of doxycycline once a week. There are many ways to decrease the chances of being infected by Leptospira. These include:

Avoid swimming or wading in freshwater ponds and slowly moving streams, especially those located near farms. Do not conduct canoe or kayak capsizing drills in freshwater ponds. Use a swimming pool instead. Boil or chemically treat pond or stream water before drinking it or cooking with it. Control rats and mice around the home. Have pets and farm animals vaccinated against Leptospira. Wear protective clothing (gloves, boots, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts) when working with wet soil or plants.

The majority of patients infected with Leptospira interrogans experience a complete recovery.

Ten percent of the patients will develop Eye inflammation (uveitis) up to one year after the illness. Death is usually caused by Kidney failure, but has also been caused by Myocarditis (inflammation of Heart tissue), septic shock (reduced blood flow to the organs because of the bacterial infection), organ failure, and/or poorly functioning Lungs.