How Common is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is estimated to have about 873,000 yearly cases globally and over 40,000 deaths.

What are signs and symptoms of Leptospirosis?

The signs and symptoms of Leptospirosis can vary depending on the syndrome and phase of the disease. Here are the signs and symptoms associated with each syndrome: Anicteric Syndrome: - Resembles the flu - Sudden onset - Headache - Cough - Rashes that do not cause itching - Fever - Chills - Muscle pain - Loss of appetite - Diarrhea - Fever usually goes away after a few days - Rarely fatal, accounting for about 90% of all Leptospirosis cases Immune Stage (Recurrent Anicteric Syndrome): - Can occur several days later - Aseptic meningitis, causing headaches - Patients typically recover completely but may suffer from chronic, sporadic headaches Icteric Phase (Weil's Disease): - Severe infection - Fever - Kidney failure - Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice) - Bleeding - Breathing problems - May also affect the heart, nerves, and muscles - Can last weeks or months - Life-threatening It's important to note that Leptospirosis can be mistaken for other conditions due to its symptoms. These conditions include viral infections of the upper respiratory tract, flu-like diseases, Dengue Fever, malaria, Hantavirus, hemorrhagic fevers, typhoid fever, cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), mononucleosis, primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), measles, or rubella. However, a known exposure to Leptospirosis should be considered when evaluating these symptoms.

How do you get Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is commonly spread through contact with the urine of infected animals, either directly or indirectly by touching soil or water that has been contaminated by the urine of an infected animal.

What else can Leptospirosis be?

Brucellosis, Dengue, Enterovirus infections, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, Hepatitis A, Kawasaki disease, Malaria, Measles, Meningitis, Q fever.

How is Leptospirosis treated?

The treatment for leptospirosis varies depending on the severity of the infection. For minor cases, antibiotics may not be necessary, and it is recommended to focus on managing symptoms and keeping the patient hydrated. If the infection can be treated at home, antibiotics like doxycycline, amoxicillin, or ampicillin may be used. In severe cases, stronger antibiotics such as intravenous penicillin G, third-generation cephalosporins, or erythromycin may be needed. Patients with a severe form of leptospirosis may require hospitalization in the intensive care unit, and additional treatments may be necessary depending on the specific symptoms and complications.

Are there long term effects of Leptospirosis?

There are two forms of Leptospirosis: a mild form that causes flu-like symptoms and resolves on its own, and a severe form known as Weil disease that can be fatal and cause multiple organ failure.

What type of doctor should I see for Leptospirosis?

You should see an infectious disease specialist or a general practitioner for Leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis

What is Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a disease that both animals and humans can catch, and it’s the most widespread disease that passes from animals to humans worldwide. Animals with this disease can spread it through their urine. People can catch it either by direct contact with the infected animal’s urine, or indirectly, by coming into contact with soil or water that the urine has contaminated.

Leptospirosis can show up in two ways. It can cause symptoms that are similar to the flu and then go away on its own. However, there is a more severe form of the disease, known as Weil disease, which can cause multiple organs in the body to stop working. This form of the disease can be fatal.

What Causes Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by an infection with a type of bacteria called Leptospira, also known as a spirochete bacterium. The disease is commonly spread through contact with the urine of infected animals. This contact can happen directly or indirectly through touching soil or water that has been contaminated by the urine of an infected animal.

A wide variety of animals can carry and spread Leptospirosis. These include farm animals like cows, pigs, and horses, as well as wild animals such as raccoons and porcupines. Even household pets like dogs can spread the disease. It’s important to note that more than 160 different species of animals can carry this disease, and they often don’t show any signs or symptoms of being infected. This means that they can spread the disease for several months after they have been infected, sometimes without ever showing any signs of being sick.

Risk Factors and Frequency for Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is often found in mild climates, appearing mainly in the late summer or early fall in Western countries and during rainy seasons in tropical regions. The number of cases in tropical areas is nearly ten times higher than in less warm climates. This disease often goes unreported as its symptoms are similar to many other illnesses. Despite this, according to the World Health Organization, there are around 873,000 cases each year, causing over 40,000 deaths. In the United States, between 100 and 200 cases are recorded each year, mostly in Hawaii. Yet, many people tested in urban areas like Detroit have shown signs of past infection.

Leptospirosis is commonly found in temperate climates.
In Western countries, it tends to appear late in the summer or early fall.
In tropical regions, it generally shows up during the rainy season.
The disease is about ten times more common in tropical areas compared to milder climates.
Since its symptoms are similar to a lot of other diseases, it often goes unreported.
The World Health Organization estimates about 873,000 yearly cases and over 40,000 deaths due to this disease globally.
In the United States, there are 100 to 200 cases identified annually, with most cases in Hawaii.
Despite the reported cases, many individuals in cities such as Detroit have tested positive for past infection.

Signs and Symptoms of Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a disease that can show up in two different ways, known as icteric and anicteric syndromes.

The anicteric syndrome resembles the flu, and it usually starts all of a sudden. Symptoms can include headache, cough, rashes that do not cause itching, fever, chills, muscle pain, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. The fever usually goes away after a few days, and this form of the disease is rarely fatal, accounting for about 90% of all Leptospirosis cases.
In some circumstances, the anicteric syndrome can recur several days later in a phase known as the immune stage. This stage may include aseptic meningitis, causing symptoms such as headaches. Patients typically recover completely but may suffer from chronic, sporadic headaches.

The icteric phase of leptospirosis, often known as Weil’s disease, is a severe infection. Symptoms include fever, kidney failure, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), bleeding, and breathing problems. It may also affect the heart, nerves, and muscles. This form of the disease can last weeks or months and can be life-threatening.

Leptospirosis can be mistaken for many other conditions due to its symptoms. These range from relatively mild conditions like viral infections of the upper respiratory tract and other flu-like diseases to more severe diseases often associated with travel, such as Dengue Fever, malaria, Hantavirus, hemorrhagic fevers, and typhoid fever. Other more common conditions like cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), mononucleosis, primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), measles, or rubella might also be considered unless there’s a known exposure to Leptospirosis.

Testing for Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is diagnosed by growing a culture in a lab or conducting a specialized test called a microscopic agglutination test. This test is only available at the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta. The disease can affect multiple organs, so additional tests might be needed. These can include tests for kidney and liver function, blood clotting studies, complete blood count, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (fluid found around your brain and spinal cord) and chest x-rays.

There is a procedure called a lumbar puncture, during which a doctor takes a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid from your lower back, that might be necessary if there’s a possibility of aseptic meningitis (an inflammation of the protective coverings of the brain and spinal cord) during the immune phase of the disease.

If there is any question about how to diagnose the disease, treatment should not be delayed if leptospirosis is suspected. In severe cases, it’s advised to contact the CDC or the World Health Organization, both of which can assist with the collection and transportation of samples for diagnostic testing.

Treatment Options for Leptospirosis

The treatment for leptospirosis, a bacterial infection, varies depending on how serious the infection is. For minor cases, many health experts recommend not using antibiotics. In these situations, it could be more beneficial to help the patient stay hydrated and manage symptoms like pain and fever.

If a patient can be treated at home, certain antibiotics may be used like doxycycline, amoxicillin, or ampicillin. In severe cases, stronger antibiotics, like intravenous penicillin G, third-generation cephalosporins, or erythromycin, might be needed.

Patients with a severe form of leptospirosis, known as icteric leptospirosis, often require hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU). This is because the disease can affect several organs at once and can quickly get worse. If their kidneys fail, these patients may be given corticosteroids, although this treatment is debated among experts. If the infection affects the lungs, the patient may need help breathing from a machine called a ventilator.

There are other treatments depending on the symptoms, for instance, eye drops, diuretics (which help to flush out fluid from the body), and medicines that help the kidneys to work better, including renal-dosed dopamine.

That being said, the mild form of leptospirosis rarely causes death, but a severe form known as Weil disease can have a high death rate.

Here are several diseases that may be confused with one another due to similarities in their symptoms: