Leptospirosis is a rare, severe, and contagious bacterial infection.
Alternative NamesWeil disease; Icterohemorrhagic fever; Swineherd's disease; Rice-field fever; Cane-cutter fever; Swamp fever; Mud fever; Hemorrhagic jaundice; Stuttgart disease; Canicola fever
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsLeptospirosis is caused by exposure to several types of the Leptospira bacteria, which can be found in fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine. It occurs in warmer climates.
Risk factors include:
Leptospirosis is rare in the continental United States. Hawaii has the highest number of cases in the United States.
SymptomsSymptoms can take 2 - 26 days (average 10 days) to develop, and may include:
Less common symptoms include:
The blood is tested for antibodies to the bacteria.
Other tests that may be done:
Medications to treat leptospirosis include:
Complicated cases will need supportive care.
Expectations (prognosis)The outlook is generally good. However, a complicated case can be life-threatening if it is not treated promptly.
ComplicationsContact your health care provider if you have any symptoms of, or risk factors for, leptospirosis.
PreventionAvoid areas of stagnant water, especially in tropical climates. If you are exposed to a high risk area, taking doxycycline may decrease your risk of developing disease.
ReferencesKo AI. Leptospirosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 344.
Leptospirosis is a rare and severe bacterial infection that occurs when people are exposed to certain environments.
Alternative NamesWeil disease; Icterohemorrhagic fever; Swineherd's disease; Rice-field fever; Cane-cutter fever; Swamp fever; Mud fever; Hemorrhagic jaundice; Stuttgart disease; Canicola fever
Causes, incidence, and risk factorsLeptospirosis is caused by exposure to several types of the Leptospira bacteria, which can be found in fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine. It occurs in warmer climates.
It is not spread from person to person, except in vary rare cases when it is transmitted through breast milk or from a mother to her unborn child.
Risk factors include:
Leptospirosis is rare in the continental United States. Hawaii has the highest number of cases in the United States.
SymptomsSymptoms can take 2 - 26 days (average 10 days) to develop, and may include:
Less common symptoms include:
The blood is tested for antibodies to the bacteria.
Other tests that may be done:
Medications to treat leptospirosis include:
Complicated or serious cases may need supportive care or treatment in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU).
Expectations (prognosis)The outlook is generally good. However, a complicated case can be life-threatening if it is not treated promptly.
ComplicationsContact your health care provider if you have any symptoms of, or risk factors for, leptospirosis.
PreventionAvoid areas of stagnant water, especially in tropical climates. If you are exposed to a high risk area, taking doxycycline or amoxicillin may decrease your risk of developing this disease.
ReferencesKo AI. Leptospirosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 344.
Reviewed ByReview Date: 08/14/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
leptospirosis
Yes
Between 100 and 200 cases of leptospirosis are reported in the United States each year. Almost 75% of cases of leptospirosis in N. America occur in males. About 50% of these cases occur in Hawaii.
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Leptospirosis is called a zoonosis because it is a disease of animals that can be transmitted to humans. It can be a very serious problem in the livestock industry.
Leptospirosis in the streams
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Vaccinate against it
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"Ictero" refers to jaundice, and "hemorrhagic" refers to a propensity towards bleeding. In certain forms of leptospirosis, patients develop a condition known as Weil's disease, or icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis. This is a severe form of leptospirosis, and leads to liver and kidney disease (the liver disease results in jaundice). These patients may also suffer from anemia, fever, and hemorrhage.
A rare complication of antibiotic therapy for leptospirosis is the occurrence of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, which is characterized by fever, chills, headache, and muscle pain.