Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira , which can be transmitted to people through contact with the urine and excrement of animals infected by this bacterium, such as rats, mainly dogs and cats.
This disease occurs more often in times of flood, because due to floods, puddles and moist soils, the urine of infected animals can easily be spread and the bacteria infect the person through mucous membranes or skin wounds, causing symptoms such as fever, chills, red eyes, headache and nausea.
Although most cases cause mild symptoms, some people can progress with serious complications, such as hemorrhage, kidney failure or meningitis, for example, so, whenever this disease is suspected, it is important to go to the infectologist or general practitioner so that they are diagnosis and treatment started, which can be done with painkillers and antibiotics.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of leptospirosis usually appear between 7 and 14 days after contact with the bacteria, however in some cases the initial symptoms of the disease may not be identified, only more severe symptoms that are indicative that the disease is already at a more advanced stage.
The symptoms of leptospirosis, when they appear, can vary from mild to severe symptoms, such as:
- High fever that starts suddenly; Headache; Pain in the body, especially in the calf, back and abdomen; Loss of appetite; Vomiting, diarrhea; Chills; Red eyes.
Between 3 and 7 days after the onset of symptoms, the Weil triad may appear, which corresponds to the three symptoms that appear together and which are indicative of a greater severity of the disease, such as jaundice, which are yellow eyes and skin, kidney failure and hemorrhages., mainly pulmonary.
The diagnosis of leptospirosis is made by the general practitioner or infectious disease by means of symptom assessment, physical examination and blood tests, such as blood count and tests to assess kidney function, liver and clotting ability, to check for any signs of complication. In addition, molecular and serological tests can be done to identify the bacteria and antigens and antibodies produced by the organism against this microorganism.
Transmission of leptospirosis
The transmission of leptospirosis does not happen from one person to another, and to be contagious by the disease, it is necessary to contact urine or other excrement of animals that are contaminated, such as rats, dogs, cats, pigs and cattle.
Leptospira usually penetrates through mucous membranes, such as eyes and mouth, or wounds and scratches on the skin, and when it is already inside the body it can reach the bloodstream and spread to other organs, leading to the appearance of complications such as kidney failure and pulmonary hemorrhages, which in addition to being late manifestations can also be indicative of greater disease severity.
The existence of situations such as floods, floods, puddles or contact with moist soil, garbage and crops can facilitate contact with the urine of contaminated animals and facilitate infection. Another form of contamination is to drink canned drinks or to consume canned goods that have come into contact with the rat's urine. Learn about other rain-borne diseases.
What to do to prevent
To protect yourself and avoid leptospirosis it is recommended to avoid contact with potentially contaminated water, such as floods, mud, rivers with standing water and a swimming pool not treated with chlorine. When it is necessary to face a flood it can be useful to use rubber galoshes to keep the skin dry and properly protected from contaminated waters, so:
- Wash and disinfect with bleach or chlorine the floor, furniture, water box and anything that has come in contact with the flood; Throw away food that has come in contact with contaminated water; Wash all cans before opening them, be it food or drink; boil water for consumption and food preparation and put 2 drops of bleach in each liter of water; try to eliminate all the points of water accumulation after the floods because of the multiplication of the mosquito of dengue or malaria; try not to let garbage accumulate at home and place it in closed bags and away from the floor to prevent the proliferation of mice.
Other measures that help in the prevention of this disease are always wearing rubber gloves, especially when handling the garbage or cleaning in places that may have rats or other rodents and washing the food very well before consuming it with drinking water and also your hands before eat.
In addition, in some cases, the use of antibiotics to prevent infection may also be indicated, which is called chemoprophylaxis. Generally, the antibiotic Doxycycline is oriented, being indicated for people who have been exposed to floods or cleaning of pits, or even for people who will still be exposed to risky situations, such as military exercises or water sports, for example.
How the treatment is done
In most cases, treatment can be done at home with the use of medications to relieve symptoms, such as paracetamol, in addition to hydration and rest. Antibiotics such as Doxycycline or Penicillin may be recommended by the doctor, although their benefit is greatest in the first 5 days of the disease. Find out more details about the treatment for Leptospirosis.
