Leptospirosis: All you need to know!

By Dr. Saibal Chakravorty in Internal Medicine

Jul 26, 2018

In India, the concern has increased, death toll is on rise in Mumbai due to the spread of Leptospirosis. As per Maharashtra Public Health Department, Maharashtra has recorded 20 cases of Leptospirosis from January to June 2018, where Mumbai holds the record of maximum number of cases i.e. 12 cases. Leptospirosis has claimed seven and nine lives in the year 2016 and 2017 respectively. In last 5 days, in Mumbai only, 3 lives were claimed by it.

What is Leptospirosis?

• Leptospirosis is a water-borne bacterial disease and is more prevalent during monsoon.  It is majorly caused by the bacterial Leptospira and is spread through the urine of the infected animals. Flooding caused by heavy downpour increases the risk of getting infected with the disease as more and more people have to wade through the contaminated water.
• “Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Leptospira. It generally spread through the urine and feces of rats and dogs. More specifically through rats.
• When it is flooded and rats pass stool or urine in the water, the water gets contaminated with Leptospirosis causing bacteria.
• If a person having some open wounds in the body is exposed to this contaminated water, he is at the high risk of getting Leptospirosis.
• Farmers are at high risk as there are lots of rats in the field and when the farmers go to the fields for plowing they get infected with this bacterium. This disease lasts from four to 21 days and it affects both animals and human beings.”

Signs and Symptoms of Leptospirosis:

This disease can cause a wide range of symptoms such as high fever, muscle aches along with abdominal pain. In certain cases a person infected with this disease may not experience and show any kind of sign or symptoms. In most of the cases the infected person develops jaundice in the early stages, though in later stages everybody gets jaundice. Mentioned below are some of the sign and symptoms of Leptospirosis:

• High fever
• Intense headache
• Abdominal pain
• Chills
• Conjunctive Suffusion
• Muscle Aches
• Vomiting
• Jaundice
• Diarrhea
• Skin Rash

Is Leptospirosis Curable?

Yes, it is curable. It will be best to consult a doctor on immediate basis if anyone experiences any of the above mentioned sign and symptoms. Antibiotics are used to treat the disease which includes doxycycline or penicillin. In most critical cases intravenous antibiotics are preferred by the doctors.

Getting a proper diagnosis is the initial step a person can take if they have high index of doubt about getting infected with the disease. Early diagnosis will be helpful in treating the disease with oral antibiotics or inject-able antibiotics. In chronic conditions there are chances that the patient might develop liver failure, respiratory failure or low platelet count.

Who are at risk of exposure to this disease?

Mentioned below is the list of people who are at higher risk of getting infected with this bacterium:

• Farmers
• Sewer maintenance workers
• Sailors on rivers
• Waste disposal workers
• Slaughterhouse workers
• Kayakers

Prevention is the key, hence mentioned below are some tips which is helpful in the prevention of the disease while keeping you healthy:

• Avoid Contaminated Water: Make sure before consuming water. Leptospirosis can enter through the openings of the body; hence avoiding swimming, water-skiing, sailing or fishing in freshwater areas are also some of the ways which can prevent Leptospirosis. Generally saltwater is safe.
• Keep away from infected animals, especially wild rats: The main carriers of the bacteria are rats and other rodents. Therefore, one has to be careful while handling the wild rat or if by any chance comes in contact with their habitat.
• Be aware of your surroundings, especially when you travel: Poor sanitation is also a major cause for the person to get infected with this disease. In poor sanitation areas Leptospirosis is more common and thus it can be difficult to avoid. So, it’s important to recognize the symptoms and need to seek doctor on immediate basis if one is ill.
• Use disinfectant: Bleach, Lysol, acid solution and iodine are the deadly to these bacteria. Make sure you are using these disinfectants to stay away from getting infected with this disease.

“It’s very common to get infected with Leptospirosis during rainy season. So it’s better to use these preventive methods to stay safe and healthy, and if you encounter any of the above mentioned symptoms then there is an immediate need for doctor’s consultation.”, says Dr. S Chakravorty, Sr. Consultant – Internal Medicine