Leptospirosis: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Causes and Transmission

• Causes

The Leptospira bacteria, which causes leptospirosis, infects animals like pigs, rodents, cats, dogs, horses, and all types of cattle. When these animals urinate near any water source or in the soil, the bacteria from the urine, poop, and other reproductive waste of these animals, cause contamination.

The bacteria then infect humans when they ingest the contaminated water or soil in any form. The bacteria usually enter a human’s body through the skin or the mucus membranes.

• Transmission

Leptospirosis doesn’t spread from person to person, except in a few rare cases. Transmission of this bacteria from animals to humans is most common when you consume contaminated sources of food and water. A cut on the skin, eyes, nose, and mouth are some ways in which the bacteria can get transmitted to your body.

Symptoms

Leptospirosis Symptoms include:

• Redness of eyes (similar to conjunctivitis symptoms)

• High Fever

• Frequent body chills

• Pain in the muscles and/or joints

• Discomfort in the abdomen

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Skin Rashes

• Jaundice-like symptoms (yellowness of the skin or eyes)

• Severe fatigue

• Soreness of throat

Symptoms that show up in severe leptospirosis (also known as Weil’s Syndrome) are:

• Vomiting of blood (haemoptysis)

• Pain in the chest

• Breathlessness

• Severe jaundice-like symptoms

• Discharge of blood while passing urine

• Black or tar-like stools

• Visible reduction in urination

• Bright red spots on the skin (known as petechiae)

Diagnosis

Your doctor will follow these diagnostic procedures to check if you have been infected with the leptospira bacteria:

• Blood & Urine Tests –

These tests will check the presence of Leptospira bacteria in your body.

• Imaging Procedures –

You may have to undergo chest scans, CT Scans, chest X-rays, and other imaging procedures if you show symptoms of severe leptospirosis.

Treatment

The cure for leptospirosis will depend on the severity of your condition. Mild dosages of antibiotics may work for mild cases. However, for severe cases, hospitalization is required.

The leptospira treatment options are:

• Antibiotics –

For mild cases of leptospira infection, your doctor will recommend suitable dosages of appropriate antibiotics.

• Ventilation through machines –

In severe cases of infection, one can experience breathing difficulty because of their lungs getting infected. For such cases, the doctor may connect you to a mechanical ventilator and give medicines through an IV needle to provide you relief from the symptoms and help you recover quickly.

• Plasmapheresis –

When you are severely infected with leptospirosis, you are at risk of suffering from an organ damage and will need a plasma exchange to control the consequences of this damage. In this case, your doctor will adopt the plasmapheresis process in which a tube is attached to your vein to remove the blood from your body. Your blood and plasma are then separated using a machine. You are given new plasma, and your blood is then sent back to your body through a tube.

FAQs

1. People of which countries are more prone to leptospirosis?

The Leptospira bacteria are mostly found in areas with warm, tropical climates and lots of rainfall. People living in Australia, New Zealand, The Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia, The Caribbean Islands, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa are more at risk of leptospirosis than others.

2. What are the two stages of leptospira infection?

The two stages of leptospira infection are the leptospiremic and the immune stage. In the leptospiremic stage, the infection can last for up to 10 days in your body. Blood tests and/or urine tests will detect the same. In the immune phase, the ailment gets severe and is known as Weil’s syndrome. This phase can lead to organ damage, renal failure, internal bleeding, and even death in some cases.

3. Is there a vaccine to protect against leptospirosis?

Currently, there is no vaccine for protection against leptospirosis. However, one can take certain preventive measures to safeguard against this infection. These measures include taking preventive medications before visiting risk-prone countries, wearing protective clothing to avoid transmission of the bacteria, staying away from water sports and swimming in contaminated waters, and avoiding consuming contaminated water/food.