Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by leptospira - microorganisms that live everywhere in conditions of increased heat and excessive humidity. Leptospirosis is most commonly found in people living in tropical countries. The carriers of the infection are animals: dogs, shrews, pigs, rats, cattle , etc. A person who is ill with leptospirosis does not pose a danger to other people.
Leptospirosis in humans: infection
In animals, the infection enters through food or water. Infections of people occur through the skin in contact with contaminated animal secretions with water or moist soil. In addition, you can infect by cutting infected meat or eating infected foods. Most often, veterinarians and farm workers undergo leptospirosis. The disease is seasonal in nature, with the largest number of infections occurring in August. For a human disease with leptospirosis, even a fleeting contact with contaminated water is sufficient. If there is even the slightest damage on the skin, leptospira easily penetrate the body. They can also get inside through the mucous membranes or conjunctiva of the eyes. Once in the body, microbes begin to move through the lymphatic system. But they do not cause inflammatory processes in the lymph nodes, but through them they easily penetrate into organs and tissues, where they begin to multiply and accumulate. The incubation period lasts up to 2 weeks. Then leptospirae affect the kidneys, liver, central nervous system, spleen, and lungs. They release their toxins into the bloodstream, causing severe intoxication, destroying red blood cells and disrupting the function of blood coagulation.
Leptospirosis in humans: symptoms
First, a person’s temperature rises sharply, signs of intoxication appear, such as headache, chills, nausea, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance, constant thirst. At the same time, no precursors of leptospirosis are observed, although leptospira can already be detected in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Similar symptoms last 4 to 9 days. So the first phase of the disease is manifested - leptospiremia. Then muscle pains begin to appear. Palpation of the muscles of the thighs, calves, and lower back causes pain. There may be hyperemia of the neck, face, chest. Some people have a rash, diarrhea, cough, and sensory disturbance. In severe cases, as a result of toxemia of the internal organs there is a risk of developing meningitis, renal failure, jaundice, hemorrhagic syndrome.
Leptospirosis in humans: diagnosis
To establish a diagnosis, a bacteriological study is performed . As already mentioned, leptospira can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid or blood. If the disease has entered the phase of toxemia of the internal organs, microorganisms are found in the urine. Sometimes doctors can’t immediately recognize leptospirosis and begin to suspect hepatitis, meningitis, nephritis and other pathologies in the patient.
Leptospirosis in humans: treatment
Often the condition of patients requires resuscitation. The disease is very serious, in 10% of cases it ends with the death of the patient. The prognosis of recovery depends on the condition of the body and on the degree of morbidity of leptospira. The treatment is carried out by taking antimicrobial agents, such as Levomycetin, Streptomycin, Penicillin, Erythromycin. To obtain a therapeutic effect, medications should be taken after no more than four days have passed from the moment of infection.
Leptospirosis Prevention
The main preventive methods are veterinary and sanitary measures, consisting in the identification and treatment of sick animals. The spread of leptospira can be limited by leptospirosis vaccination in humans and animals. Do not use water from dirty sources.