Leptospirosis (patient information): Difference between revisions

	Leptospirosis
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
When to seek urgent medical care?
Diagnosis
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Leptospirosis?
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
Prevention
Leptospirosis On the Web
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
Images of Leptospirosis
Videos on Leptospirosis
FDA on Leptospirosis
CDC on Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis in the news
Blogs on Leptospirosis
Directions to Hospitals Treating Leptospirosis
Risk calculators and risk factors for Leptospirosis

VisualWikitext

Latest revision as of 22:29, 29 July 2020

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Leptospirosis is an infection that occurs when you come in contact with Leptospira bacteria.

What are the symptoms of Leptospirosis?

Symptoms can take 2 to 26 days (average 10 days) to develop, and may include:

Less common symptoms include:

Abdominal pain
Abnormal lung sounds
Bone pain
Conjunctivitis
Enlarged lymph glands
Enlarged spleen or liver
Joint aches
Muscle rigidity
Muscle tenderness
Skin rash
Sore throat

What causes Leptospirosis?

The Leptospira bacteria can be found in fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine. The infection occurs in warmer climates.

Leptospirosis is not spread from person to person, except in vary rare cases. It occasionally spreads through sexual intercourse, breast milk, or from a mother to her unborn child.

Risk factors include:

Occupational exposure -- farmers, ranchers, slaughterhouse workers, trappers, veterinarians, loggers, sewer workers, rice field workers, and military personnel
Recreational activities -- fresh water swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and trail biking in warm areas
Household exposure -- pet dogs, domesticated livestock, rainwater catchment systems, and infected rodents

Leptospirosis is rare in the continental United States. Hawaii has the highest number of cases in the United States. Recent out break of leptospirosis is reported in Bronx, New York and found 3 cases in the months January and February, 2017.

Who is at highest risk?

Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Contact your health care provider if you have any symptoms of, or risk factors for, leptospirosis.

Treatment options

Medications to treat leptospirosis include:

Complicated or serious cases may need supportive care or treatment in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU).

Where to find medical care for Leptospirosis?

1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-262-4636)/TTY 1-888-232-6348 or

visit the website at http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/

Prevention

The risk of acquiring leptospirosis can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine. Protective clothing or footwear should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job or recreational activities.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

The outlook is generally good. However, a complicated case can be life threatening if it is not treated promptly.

Possible complications

Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction when penicillin is given
Meningitis
Severe bleeding

Sources

http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/resources/index.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001376.htm

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==How do people get leptospirosis?==
+__NOTOC__
+{{Template:Leptospirosis (patient information)}}
-Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.
+'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Leptospirosis|here]]'''
-==How long is it between the time of exposure and when people become sick?==
+{{CMG}}
-The time between a person's exposure to a contaminated source and becoming sick is 2 days to 4 weeks. Illness usually begins abruptly with fever and other symptoms. Leptospirosis may occur in two phases; after the first phase, with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea, the patient may recover for a time but become ill again. If a second phase occurs, it is more severe; the person may have kidney or liver failure or meningitis. This phase is also called Weil's disease.
+==Overview==
-The illness lasts from a few days to 3 weeks or longer. Without treatment, recovery may take several months.
+Leptospirosis is an infection that occurs when you come in contact with ''[[Leptospira]]'' bacteria.
-==Can leptospirosis be prevented?==
+==What are the symptoms of Leptospirosis?==
-The risk of acquiring leptospirosis can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine.
+Symptoms can take 2 to 26 days (average 10 days) to develop, and may include:
-Protective clothing or footwear should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job or recreational activities.
+:* [[Dry cough]]
+:* [[Fever]]
+:* [[Headache]]
+:* [[Muscle pain]]
+:* [[Nausea]], [[vomiting]], and [[diarrhea]]
+:* [[Shaking chills]]
-==Overview==
+Less common symptoms include:
-* This section should give a brief description of the disease, and have the name of the disease in the first sentence.
-* For an example of the overview section of a patient page, click [[Pericarditis (patient information)#Overview|here]]
-==What are the symptoms of (disease name)?==
+:* [[Abdominal pain]]
-* Here you can list the symptoms that the patient may notice. Remember that signs are different from symptoms.
+:* Abnormal lung sounds
-* For an example of the symptoms section in a patient information page, click [[Chronic stable angina (patient information)#What are the symptoms of angina?|here]].
+:* [[Bone pain]]
+:* [[Conjunctivitis]]
+:* Enlarged lymph glands
+:* [[Enlarged spleen]] or liver
+:* [[Joint aches]]
+:* [[Muscle rigidity]]
+:* Muscle tenderness
+:* [[Skin rash]]
+:* [[Sore throat]]
-==What causes (disease name)?==
+==What causes Leptospirosis?==
-* Here you can list the causes of the disease. Remember this is what causes the disease, not what the disease causes.
-* For an example of the causes section on a patient information page, click [[Pericarditis (patient information)#What causes Pericarditis|here]].
-==Who is at highest risk?==
+The Leptospira bacteria can be found in fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine. The infection occurs in warmer climates.
-* Here you can list, or write in sentences, the most common risk factors for developing the disease.
+Leptospirosis is not spread from person to person, except in vary rare cases. It occasionally spreads through sexual intercourse, breast milk, or from a mother to her unborn child.
-* This section can be separated into modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors if appropriate.
+Risk factors include:
-* For an example of a risk factors section on a patient information page, click [[Chronic stable angina (patient information)#Who is at highest risk|here]].
+:* Occupational exposure -- farmers, ranchers, slaughterhouse workers, trappers, veterinarians, loggers, sewer workers, rice field workers, and military personnel
+:* Recreational activities -- fresh water swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and trail biking in warm areas
+:* Household exposure -- pet dogs, domesticated livestock, rainwater catchment systems, and infected rodents
-==Diagnosis==
+Leptospirosis is rare in the continental United States. Hawaii has the highest number of cases in the United States. Recent out break of leptospirosis is reported in Bronx, New York and found 3 cases in the months January and February, 2017.
-* In this section you can outline what the patient might expect to encounter as far as diagnostic studies.
+==Who is at highest risk?==
-* List the types of studies with a brief description, as well as blood tests, urine tests, pertinent portions of the physical examination etc.
+Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to water contaminated with the urine of infected animals. Many different kinds of animals carry the bacterium; they may become sick but sometimes have no symptoms. Leptospira organisms have been found in cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, rodents, and wild animals. Humans become infected through contact with water, food, or soil containing urine from these infected animals. This may happen by swallowing contaminated food or water or through skin contact, especially with mucosal surfaces, such as the eyes or nose, or with broken skin. The disease is not known to be spread from person to person.
-* For an example of a diagnosis section on a patient information page, click [[Chronic stable angina (patient information)#Diagnosis|here]].
+==Diagnosis==
 ==When to seek urgent medical care?==
-* This section should focus on the symptoms that may indicate impending life threatening situations, or significant worsening.
+Contact your health care provider if you have any symptoms of, or risk factors for, leptospirosis.
-* For an example of a section detailing this on a patient information page, click [[Chronic stable angina (patient information)#When to seek urgent medical care|here]]
+==Treatment options==
-==Treatment options==
+Medications to treat leptospirosis include:
-* In this section you should outline the treatment options, including medications, lifestyle changes, and surgical interventions.
+:* [[Ampicillin]]
+:* [[Azithromycin]]
+:* [[Ceftriaxone]]
+:* [[Doxycycline]]
+:* [[Penicillin]]
-* Advise the patient to always follow the treatment plan that their doctor has provided them.
+Complicated or serious cases may need supportive care or treatment in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU).
-* For an example of a treatment section of a patient information page, click [[Chronic stable angina (patient information)#Treatment options|here]].
+==Where to find medical care for Leptospirosis?==
-==Where to find medical care for (disease name)?==
+-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-262-4636)/TTY 1-888-232-6348 or
-*In this section you can provide links for reputable places that the patient can find good treatment for there condition.
+visit the website at http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/
 ==Prevention==
-* In this section, outline the factors that can prevent the onset of the disease, or prevent worsening of the disease.
+The risk of acquiring leptospirosis can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine.
+Protective clothing or footwear should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil because of their job or recreational activities.
-* For an example of the prevention section of a patient information page, click [[Chronic stable angina (patient information)#Prevention|here]].
 ==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
-* In this section you should provide a brief statement of what the patient might expect as the prognosis of their condition.
+The outlook is generally good. However, a complicated case can be life threatening if it is not treated promptly.
-* Include prognosis with and without treatment, and also the likelihood of a certain outcome occurring.
-* For an example of the prognosis section on a patient information page, click [[Pericarditis (patient information)#What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?|here]].
 ==Possible complications==
-* In this section, you can list the common and most important (life-threatening) complications of the disease or it's treatment.
+* [[Jarisch-Herxheimer]] reaction when penicillin is given
+* [[Meningitis]]
-* For an example of the complications section in a patient information page, click [[Pericarditis (patient information)#Possible complications|here]].
+* Severe [[bleeding]]
 ==Sources==
-* Put the sources for your information here.
+http://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis/resources/index.html
-* The National Library of Medicine is a good source to reference for patient information pages: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/.
-==Things to Remember==
-* Include a link back to the physician page at the top of the page.
-* Always put <nowiki>{{CMG}}</nowiki> at the top of every page.
-* Never take content directly from a source without checking copyright.
-* Place your patient page in the patient information category as well as any other doctor categories the condition may fit into. To place a category onto a page, use the following code:
-**<nowiki>[[Category:Patient information]]</nowiki>
-* As with all WikiDoc pages, create hyperlinks for key words and diseases.  However, make sure that the hyperlinks link to other patient's information pages and not to regular WikiDoc pages.
-** Example: Heart failure should be linked to <nowiki>[[Congestive heart failure (patient information)]]</nowiki> and not to <nowiki> [[Heart failure]]</nowiki>.
-[[Category:Help]]
+http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001376.htm
-[[Category:Templates]]
-{{WikiDoc Help Menu}}
+[[Category:Patient information]]
-{{WikiDoc Sources}}
+[[Category:Emergency mdicine]]
+[[Category:Disease]]
+[[Category:Up-To-Date]]
+[[Category:Infectious disease]]
+[[Category:Pulmonology]]
+[[Category:Gastroenterology]]
+[[Category:Otolaryngology]]
+[[Category:Neurology]]