Leptospirosis (patient information)

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
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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.

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).

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.

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