Leptospirosis (patient information): Difference between revisions

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


Dry cough
:* Dry cough
Fever
:* Fever
Headache
:* Headache
Muscle pain
:* Muscle pain
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
:* Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Shaking chills
:* Shaking chills


Less common symptoms include:
Less common symptoms include:


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


==What causes (disease name)?==
==What causes (disease name)?==
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==Treatment options==
==Treatment options==


Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be given early in the course of the disease.
Medications to treat leptospirosis include:
 
Ampicillin
Azithromycin
Ceftriaxone
Doxycycline
Penicillin
 
Complicated or serious cases may need supportive care or treatment in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU).


Intravenous antibiotics may be required for persons with more severe symptoms. Persons with symptoms suggestive of leptospirosis should contact a health care provider.
==Where to find medical care for (disease name)?==
==Where to find medical care for (disease name)?==



Revision as of 18:07, 10 August 2015

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

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 (disease name)?

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

  • Dry cough
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
  • Shaking chills

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 (disease name)?

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.

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?

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.

The illness lasts from a few days to 3 weeks or longer. Without treatment, recovery may take several months.

Treatment options

Medications to treat leptospirosis include:

Ampicillin Azithromycin Ceftriaxone Doxycycline Penicillin

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

Where to find medical care for (disease name)?

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)?

Possible complications

Without treatment, Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death.

Sources

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