Tackling leptospirosis

Tackling leptospirosis

News:

Leptospirosis outbreak causes concern in Kerala after the floods.

Facts:

• The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) data show that as of October 31, 2018, there have been 1,807 confirmed cases and 74 confirmed deaths.

What is Leptospirosis

• Commonly known as rat fever or Andaman hemorrhagic fever
• Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection caused by ‘spirochete’, is naturally carried species of rodents, wildlife and domestic animals. Dogs, cattle and rabbits also transmit the infection.
• Rodents have an enormous ability to excrete large number of leptospirae in the urine, which is the main source of contamination incriminating human and animal leptospirosis.
• Humans become infected through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with a urine-contaminated environment.
• The bacteria enter the body through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and eyes. Person-to-person transmission is rare.
• Infection can also occur through aborted fetuses, afterbirth or uterine discharges of cattle or the semen of an infected bull.
• In the early stages of the disease, symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, chills, redness of the eyes, abdominal pain, jaundice, hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash.

Treatment:

• Once the diagnosis is established, a medicine named Doxycycline 100 mg should be prescribed twice a day for seven days and ampicillin/amoxicillin should be prescribed to children and pregnant and lactating women for seven days.