Leptospirosis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that affects humans and animals. Leptospirosis is caused by the leptospira interrogans bacteria. Leptospirosis in humans can cause several symptoms, but some may be mistaken for other diseases. However, some people who are infected may not experience symptoms.
If without the treatment of leptospirosis, this disease can cause kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membranes in the area of the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory problems, and even death.
If you are around the ground or water where you drink animals infected with urine, these germs can attack the human body through the skin gap, such as scratches, open wounds, or dry wounds.
The causes of leptospirosis also spread through the nose, mouth and genitals. But transmission from humans is rare, although it can be through sex and breastfeeding.
The risk of contracting leptospirosis is increased if it is often in an animal environment or outdoors that is often crossed by animals. In addition, some jobs that might be at risk of contracting leptospirosis are; farmers, veterinarians, underground workers (working in sewers or mines), slaughterhouse workers, and military personnel.
The causes of leptospirosis or transmission can also be through other activities such as rafting , swimming, or camping near leptospira interrogans bacteria-contaminated lakes and rivers.
Symptoms of severe leptospirosis depend on the vital organs affected by this disease. Symptoms can cause kidney or liver failure, respiratory problems, and meningitis. This condition can be fatal.
If meningitis and encephalitis are not treated promptly, it is likely to cause brain damage and even life threatening.
Patients who experience more severe symptoms, may be given leptospirosis drugs in the form of intravenous antibiotics. Meanwhile, patients with suggestive symptoms should contact a doctor.
The following ways might help reduce the risk of leptospirosis - based on the place where the activity is carried out, including:
One of them is to make sure the body that has scratched wounds has been bandaged using a waterproof dressing. This method can protect against various infections, including hepatitis A and giardiasis. Don't forget, clean your body with a shower after playing in fresh water.
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If without the treatment of leptospirosis, this disease can cause kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membranes in the area of the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory problems, and even death.
Causes of Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is caused by the bacterium Leptospira interrogans. These bacteria usually live in the kidneys of animals carrying leptospirosis, which will come out through the urine and settle on the ground. Animals that commonly contract this disease are mice.If you are around the ground or water where you drink animals infected with urine, these germs can attack the human body through the skin gap, such as scratches, open wounds, or dry wounds.
The causes of leptospirosis also spread through the nose, mouth and genitals. But transmission from humans is rare, although it can be through sex and breastfeeding.
The risk of contracting leptospirosis is increased if it is often in an animal environment or outdoors that is often crossed by animals. In addition, some jobs that might be at risk of contracting leptospirosis are; farmers, veterinarians, underground workers (working in sewers or mines), slaughterhouse workers, and military personnel.
The causes of leptospirosis or transmission can also be through other activities such as rafting , swimming, or camping near leptospira interrogans bacteria-contaminated lakes and rivers.
Symptoms of Leptospirosis
Signs and symptoms of leptospirosis generally appear suddenly, usually around 5 to 14 days after experiencing leptospira interrogans bacterial infection. While according to the CDC or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention based in America, the incubation period is around 2 to 30 days. And the following symptoms of leptospirosis are mild to severe:1. Mild leptospirosis
Signs and symptoms of mild leptospirosis are as follows:- Fever and cold
- Matuk
- Diarrhea, vomiting, or both
- Headache
- Muscle pain, especially the lower back and calf
- rash
- Red and irritated eyes
- Jaundice
2. Severe leptospirosis
People with severe leptospirosis will cause signs and symptoms a few days after experiencing symptoms of mild leptospirosis disappear.Symptoms of severe leptospirosis depend on the vital organs affected by this disease. Symptoms can cause kidney or liver failure, respiratory problems, and meningitis. This condition can be fatal.
Symptoms of Leptospirosis in Vital Organ
Leptospirosis can attack the body's vital organs that interfere with health, including:1. Heart, liver and kidneys
If leptospirosis interferes with the health of the heart, liver and kidneys, the sufferer will experience symptoms such as; Fatigue, rapid irregular heartbeat, muscle aches, nausea, nosebleeds, chest pain, gasping for breath, poor appetite, swelling of the hands and feet, weight loss without cause, jaundice . If the condition is not immediately treated, it is likely to cause kidney failure, even leading to death.2. Brain
If this disease attacks the brain or spinal cord, this will cause meningitis or encephalitis. Meningitis is an infection that occurs in a membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord, while encephalitis is an infection of brain tissue. Both of these conditions have the same signs and symptoms, including: Confusion or disorientation, feeling sleepy, seizures, high fever, nausea, photophobia (sensitivity to light), difficulty moving, stiff neck, difficulty speaking, vomiting, and aggressive behavior or not normalIf meningitis and encephalitis are not treated promptly, it is likely to cause brain damage and even life threatening.
3. Lungs
If leptospirosis attacks the lungs, the sufferer will experience difficulty breathing. Signs and symptoms that appear such as high fever, gasping for breath, and coughing up blood.Diagnosis of Leptospirosis
Mild leptospirosis is difficult to diagnose, because the symptoms resemble flu and other infections. If the disease of leptospirosis is severe, the sufferer can undergo a special diagnostic test. To help with the diagnosis, your doctor may ask questions about the activity that you went through previously.Leptospirosis treatment
This disease can be treated using an antibiotic leptospirosis bverupa drug, such as doxycycline or penicillin. This drug must be used in the early stages of leptospiros disease.Patients who experience more severe symptoms, may be given leptospirosis drugs in the form of intravenous antibiotics. Meanwhile, patients with suggestive symptoms should contact a doctor.
Prevention of Leptospirosis
Before doing activities outside the home or on vacation in a tropical country, or related to water, consult with your doctor first about the right preventative action to do.The following ways might help reduce the risk of leptospirosis - based on the place where the activity is carried out, including:
1. Swim or play water
In non-tropical developed countries, the risk of developing leptospirosis is likely to be very small, and does not even need to avoid water sports. However, if you often do water sports in fresh water, you must take precautions. How to?One of them is to make sure the body that has scratched wounds has been bandaged using a waterproof dressing. This method can protect against various infections, including hepatitis A and giardiasis. Don't forget, clean your body with a shower after playing in fresh water.
2. Pollution in the workplace
For those of you who work in contact with leptospirosis disease animals, water or soil that is prone to bacterial contamination must use protective clothing and comply with work regulations. Apart from confusing clothes, you also have to use gloves, masks, boots, and glasses.3. During holidays
If you go to the place where leptospirosis is common, you should take the following precautions:- Avoid swimming in fresh water
- Drink boiled water or drink sealed bottled water
- If there is a wound on your body, clean and wrap it with an ainti water dressing
4. Disaster management
Emergency work such as military personnel serving in the disaster zone must use antibiotics for precautionary measures.Also Read :