SHARES
Floods often leave a host of diseases for us to battle with, thanks to the situation in the country. Water-borne diseases are a real threat now, as the flood-affected city limps back to normalcy. One infection that came out to be quite a killer in the past in the aftermath of floods was Leptospirosis. Read on to know more about it.
What is Leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is caused by the bacteria (Leptospira interrogans); some symptoms in patients include liver or kidney failure, meningitis, respiratory failure sometimes or even death. The disease is spread via the urine of infected animals (most often – rats, dogs and pigs; these bacteria have the ability to survive in the water and soil for several months. The disease is most commonly seen in tropical and temperate climates.
What are the symptoms of Leptospirosis?
Symptoms can range from
- mild headache
- muscle pain
- fever
- severe bleeding in the lungs.
In certain cases, however, there may be no symptoms at all. Signs and symptoms for leptospirosis can be highly variable and range from non-specific symptoms such as high fever, headache, chills etc to no symptoms at all.
How does Leptospirosis spread?
The bacterium enters the body through the skin, (bruised or cut) or through the eyes when it comes in contact with the contaminated water. This disease is seen to affect both humans and animals. In case of humans, infection can occur through direct contact with urine of infected animals or with a urine contaminated environment. The bacteria enter via cuts, scraped, worn area or through mucous membrane from the eyes, sinuses, nose and mouth.
If left untreated, leptospirosis can cause meningitis, kidney damage, respiratory diseases, liver failure, and even death.
How is Leptospirosis diagnosed?
Definitive diagnosis is done by isolating the bacteria from the patient; serological tests can also be done. It is vital to diagnose early and also carry on with treatment – within 3-5 days after the onset of symptoms. A simple blood test and medication can cure leptospirosis, as long as it is diagnosed early.
What is the treatment for Leptospirosis?
Although there is controversy about using antibiotics in the first phase of leptospirosis, antibiotics viz, penicillin G, amoxicillin, ampicillin or erythromycin are recommended for treatment of patients with severe symptoms. Certain patients might require IV antibiotics and hospital care as well.
How do we prevent ourselves from getting infected?
- Try to avoid walking in areas with stagnant water especially near garbage dumped areas.
- If you have walked in stagnant/rain water, it is advisable to wash the legs with clean water with dettol and also scrub with salt.
- In case there are cuts or scratches, it is better to use adhesive bandage to cover up the wound.
- Usage of footwear like gum boots if there is a situation to walk in water-logged areas regularly as prevention is advisable.
- Avoiding contact with animal excreta and contaminated soil and water are other ways to decrease the chance of getting infected.
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by Hridya
A biochemist by education who could never put what she studied to good use, finally found GetDoc as a medium to do what she loved - bring information to people using a forum that is dedicated to all things medical. View all articles by Hridya.
