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Leptospirosis - Leptospirosis symptom, treatment, causes

Leptospirosis is an uncommon disease due to infestation by Leptospira, spiral-shaped organisms that are carried by many domestic and wild animals and excreted in their urine. Humans are infected when the organism enters through a break in the skin or the lining of the mouth after direct contact with an infected animal's urine or tissue. or with contaml nated water or soil. Leptospirosis may be an occu-pational disease of farmers and meatworkers, or it may come from activities such as swimming in contaminated water.

Leptospirosis is a rare, severe, and contagious infection caused by several type of the Leptospira bacteria. Leptospira bacteria are found worldwide and there are many different types or serovars capable of causing dissease. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira . Leptospirosis, also known as canicola fever hemorrhagic jaundice, infectious jaundice, mud fever, spirochetal jaundice, swamp fever, swineherd's disease, caver's flu or sewerman's flu, is a bacterial infection resulting from exposure to the Leptospira interrogans bacterium. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by rats as well as by skunks, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and other vermin. There is an acute form of human infection known as Weil's Disease, where the patient suffers from jaundice, though this term is often (incorrectly) used to describe any case of infection. The bacteria , enters the body via cuts to the skin, or via the nose, mouth or other mucous membranes. In most cases the infection causes a flu-like illness and severe headaches. The severe form of the disease (Weil's disease) causes jaundice and liver damage and carries a reported death rate anywhere between 4 and 40 per cent. Only about 10 to 15 per cent of affected people suffer this more dangerous form. Leptospirosis is rare in the UK, and Weil's disease extremely rare. Weil's Disease is however a very serious illness, and must be swiftly diagnosed and treated.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. Some animals act as carriers and pass the bacteria in their urine others become ill and die. People acquire these infections through contact with infected animals, their urine, or soil and water contaminated by infected urine.Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or a rash. The 40 to 100 infections reported every year in the United States occur mainly in the late summer and early fall. Because mild leptospirosis typically causes vague, flu-like symptoms, many infections probably go unreported. Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases. Leptospirosis, an infectious disease that affects humans and animals, is considered the most common zoonosis in the world. The disease is not treated, the patient could develop kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, and respiratory distress. Although leptospirosis is an occupational disease of farmers and sewer and slaughterhouse workers, most people become infected while engaging in outdoor activities such as swimming or wading in contaminated water Leptospirosis is caused by spiral-shaped bacteria of the genus Leptospira (referred to as leptospires) which infect a variety of wild and domestic animals.

Causes of Leptospirosis

The common Causes of Leptospirosis :

• Leptospirosis is caused by Leptospira interrogans a corkscrew-shaped bacterium (spirochete).
• Pet dogs, domesticated live stock, rainwater catchment systems, and infestation by infected rodents.
• Fresh water swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and trail biking in warm areas.
• Leptospirosis is caused by exposure to the bacteria, which can be found in fresh water contaminated by animal urine.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis

There are two phases of symptoms. After an incubation period of 7 to 14 days, there is an abrupt onset of headache, severe muscular aches. chills and fever, and CONJUNCTIVITIS. These symptoms continue for 4 to 9 days, then subside for several days, after which the second phase begins with recurrence of the symptoms and the possible development of MENINGITIS (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). Weil's disease is a severe form of leptospirosis that may develop 3 to 6 days after the onset of illness, with jaundice, kidney failure. abnormal bleeding, drowsiness and confusion, and continuing fever. Some Symptoms of Leptospirosis :

• Diarrhoea.
• Dry cough .
• Conjunctivitis.
• Sore throat.
• Internal bleeding .
• Nausea.
• Vomiting .
• Joint aches.
• Bone pain .
• Abdominal pain.

Treatment of Leptospirosis

• Penicillins, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and erythromycin can be given to treat leptospirosis. Supportive care needs to be given in complicated cases.
• The antibiotics of choice are penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and erythromycin. Kidney dialysis may be necessary in some cases.
• Supportive therapy and careful management of renal, hepatic, hematologic, and CNS complications are important.
• Diagnosis is by culturing the organism from the patient's blood, urine or cerebrospinal fluid (which surrounds the brain and spinal cord). or by finding specific antibodies in the blood.

Diagnosis and Treament of Leptospirosis

Diagnosis is by culturing the organism from the patient's blood, urine or cerebrospinal fluid (which surrounds the brain and spinal cord). or by finding specific antibodies in the blood. Treatment with antibiotics brings complete recovery in most cases.