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Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria belonging to the
genus Leptospira.
It is a zoonosis – an animal disease that can spread to
humans – affecting domestic and wild animals such as
cattle, dogs, cats, pigs, and rodents.
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In Kerala
From Jan 2018 to Aug /28/2018
665 peoples are diagnosed to have leptospirosis(146
in Aug)
30 people had died since Jan 18
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Other names 7-day fever,
Harvest fever
field fever
Canefield fever
Mild fever
Rat catcher's yellows
Fort Bragg fever
Pretibial fever
(RAT Fever / RAT BITE FEVER is not Leptospirosis)
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History
The disease was first described by Adolf Weil in
1886 when he reported an "acute infectious
disease with enlargement of spleen, jaundice,
and nephritis
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Causes
Leptospirosis is caused by a bacterium
called Leptospira interrogans.
The organism is carried by many animals(cattle, dogs,
cats, pigs, and rodents ) and lives in their kidneys. It
ends up in soil and water through their urine.
Up to 13 different genetic types of Leptospira may
cause disease in humans
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If you’re around soil or water where it contaminated
with Leptospira, the germ can invade your body
through,
Breaks in your skin like scratches/ open wounds
Nose.
Mouth.(also contaminated food/water)
Eyes.
Genitals.
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Human to Human transfer of Leptospirosis.
It’s hard to get it from another human, though it
can be passed through,
sex
Breastfeeding
Mother to fetus
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What Happens after infection
After infection, leptospires appear in the blood and
invade practically all tissues and organs.
They are subsequently cleared from the body by the
host’s immune response to the infection.
They may settle in the convoluted tubules of the
kidneys and be shed in the urine for a period of a few
weeks to several months and occasionally even longer.
They may persist in the eyes for much longer.
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Signs & Symptoms
In about 90% of infected people, leptospirosis symptoms
are not serious and potentially fatal form of leptospirosis
is called Weil syndrome.
•Leptospirosis usually occurs in two phases:
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First phase: About 5 to 14 days after infection occurs.
Fever
Headache
Sore throat
Severe muscle aches in the calves and back
Chills occur suddenly.
The eyes usually become very red on the third or
fourth day.(conjunctival suffusion )
Cough blood, and have chest pain.
Most people recover within about 1 week.
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Second (immune) phase: In some people, symptoms
recur a few days later. (weil syndrome)
The fever returns
Meningitis
Jaundice
kidney failure
Epistaxis
Hemoptysis
Pulmonary haemorrhage with respiratory failure
Bleeding may occur within tissues in the skin, less
commonly, digestive tract.
Anemia can develop.
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Diagnosis
• Careful assessments of the history of the patient.
• Culture studies of,
Blood
Urine (after 10 days)
CSF
• RFT
• LFT
• PCR(polymerase chain reaction)
• ELIZA (presence of IgM)
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• CBC
• MAT-Microscopic agglutination test ( Determination
of antibody tite)
• Doctors suspect leptospirosis when characteristic
symptoms occur in people where an outbreak is
occurring.
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Dialysis is used in serious cases.
Elevations of serum potassium are common and if the
potassium level gets too high special measures must
be taken.
Serum phosphorus levels may increase to
unacceptable levels due to kidney failure.
Administration of corticosteroids in gradually
reduced doses (e.g., prednisolone) for 7–10 days is
recommended by some specialists in cases of severe
hemorrhagic effects.
Organ-specific care and treatment are essential in
cases of kidney, liver, or heart involvement
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Prevention
Kill/Control Rats.
Enviourmental and personal hygiene.
Wash hands with soap and water after contacting
with animals.
Avoid contacting water with open wound or
abrasions or use boot and rubber gloves.
Take preventive measures in the epidemic areas.
Drink boiled water
Cover foods and water and eat warm foods/water
