What Is Leptospirosis and How Does It Affect?
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection transmitted to humans through contact with animal urine or by-products. It is spread via urine, particularly by dogs, rodents, and agricultural animals. The animals may not show any signs or symptoms, but they are nonetheless carriers.
Leptospirosis is usually unpleasant but not life-threatening, similar to the flu. It usually only lasts a week. When you have a severe form of leptospirosis, though, roughly 10% of the time you'll get better, then get sick again. This is known as Weil's illness, and it can lead to far more serious problems such as chest pain and swelling arms and legs. It frequently necessitates hospitalization.
Leptospirosis is more common in warm climates. Despite the fact that the bacteria may be found all over the world, it is most prevalent in Africa, Australia, Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and the Caribbean.
What are the main causes of Leptospirosis?
Caused by Leptospira, the bacteria can enter your body through openings in your skin, such as scrapes, open wounds, or dry patches when you're near soil or water where an infected animal had urinated. It can also get into your body through your mouth, nose, or genitals. It's difficult to contract it from another person, yet it can be transmitted through sex or while nursing babies.
If you spend a lot of time among animals or in the outdoors, you may be at risk. If you work in one of these jobs, you're more likely to be exposed to it:
- Veterinarian
- Farmer
- Underground employee (you work in a sewer or a mine)
- Armed forces people
- Slaughterhouse employee
- You may also contract the sickness if you raft, swim, or camp near contaminated lakes and rivers
Leptospirosis Signs and Symptoms
Leptospirosis symptoms normally appear within two weeks, though they may take longer or not appear at all in some cases. You may have feverwhich may rise to as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The condition might spread throughout your body, causing internal bleeding and inflaming your pancreas or gallbladder (systemic inflammatory syndrome). Following the spread of this virus, you or people around you may notice changes in your speech or behaviour. Other common Leptospirosis signs and symptoms include:
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Jaundice
- Skin rash
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Possible severe Leptospirosis symptoms include
- Kidney failure
- Meningitis
- Respiratory distress syndrome
- Haemorrhage
- Conjunctival infection
- Myocarditis
Without treatment, leptospirosis symptoms may eventually translate to multiple organ damage and even death.
How is Leptospirosis Test Performed?
To check for leptospirosis, your doctor will do a simple blood test and look for antibodies in the blood. These are bacteria-fighting substances produced by your body. If you've had the disease before, the leptospirosis test could result in a false positive. So, about a week later, your doctor will likely conduct a second leptospirosis test to ensure the results are accurate.
A DNA test could also be ordered by your doctor. It is important for early diagnosis during the acute phase of illness before an antibody response is mounted. With DNA test, leptospira can only be detected from blood, CSF and tissue up to 7 days after initial clinical onset. For diagnosis beyond this period a urine sample is required.
For Leptospirosis, test cost many vary from one test to other, while also altering between lab to lab based on the technology and methodology used for testing. For instance, leptospirosis test cost for antibodies might be lesser than a DNA test.
Leptospirosis Treatment
Antibioticsare commonly used for leptospirosis treatment. For fever and muscle ache, your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The illness should clear up in approximately a week.
If your infection is serious, you may need to be admitted in the hospital. Antibiotics may need to be injected into your body, and in severe situations, the infection may cause organ damage.
If you have recently come in contact with affected swamps, wetlands or marshes, and notice suggestive symptoms, you should contact a health care provider for appropriate leptospirosis treatment.
How Should You Prevent it?
Avoid drinking contaminated water. If you're in a developing country, make sure the water is safe before drinking it. Because leptospirosis can enter the body through various openings in the skin or body, it's good to avoid waterskiing, freshwater swimming, sailing, or fishing. In general, saltwater is safe.
Agilus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of Fortis Healthcare Limited
