Leptospirosis
We discussed Leptospirosis in the past issues but because of the heavy rains that cause floods in some areas, it is best to review and be informed to be protected against this disease entity.
This infection is carried by animals both domesticated and wild, whose waste will contaminate water or food ingested or inoculated through an open wound of the skin or mucous membranes.
The infecting organism can live longer than 3 weeks in stagnant water.
Clinically, leptospirosis may manifest by being asymptomatic to having a fatal outcome. It has three stages and these are:
* Stage 1: – Septicemic or febrile stage that may last for 4-7 days
* Stage 2: Immune or toxic stage that may last for 4 to 30 days. The affected individual may have or no jaundice at all. If severe, death may happen between the 9th and 16th day
* Stage 3: Convalescence Stage
In stage 1 patients may have high fever and chills including headache, vomiting, body malaise, abdominal pain, and severe prostration. Respiratory symptoms such as cough, respiratory distress and bloody sputum may be observed.
In the second stage, there could be a return of fever of lower degree with these associated symptoms: rash, conjunctival injections, headache, and meningeal manifestations.
If the patient has jaundice ( Weil Syndrome), hepatic and renal manifestations are prominent. There could be liver enlargement (hepatomegaly), hyperbilirubinemia and decrease in urine output
(oliguria) and no urine output at all (anuria) and this will progress to renal failure.
We should be very careful and avoid exposure to contaminated water and food. The prevalence of this disease is greater during the rainy season.