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Leptospirosis |
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Leptospirosis is a medical condition, in which a complex of infectious, such as canicola fever, spirochetal infectious jaundice, and Weil’s syndrome result from Leptospira bacteria. Leptospirosis happens in many domestic and wild animals. Some animals behave as carriers and shed the bacteria in their urine, while others become sick and die. Individuals get Leptospirosis by contact with animals or animal’s urine. Although, this infection is a disease of farmers and slaughter house and sewer workers, most of individuals become infected during swimming in water, that is contaminated. The 40 to 100 cases of Leptospirosis exist each year in the U.S., and happens mostly in early fall and in the late summer. Many cases are possibly unreported, because Leptospirosis usually results vague flu like signs. It takes about 2 to 20 days to develop symptoms of Leptospira bacteria. The illness usually begins suddenly with headaches, chills, fever and severe muscle pain. In about 10 to 15% of infected individuals, the lung disorder such as the coughing up of blood occurs. Fever and chills last from 4 to 10 days. Pinkeye appears approximately on the 4th day. The temperature clears for several days, but happens again between the 6th and 12th days along with other symptoms. At this time, lining of brain is inflamed (meningitis), causing headaches, stiff neck and in some cases coma and stupor. All these symptoms are not caused by brain lining infection, but they may be resulted from inflammation, caused by the toxic effects of the person’s body, trying to destroy the bacteria. A pregnant female, infected with Leptospirosis can also miscarry. Individuals who don’t progress jaundice, usually have a full recovery. Jundice indicates damage of the liver and causes death in approx 10% of individuals over 60 years old. Such antibiotics as Doxycycline may prevent Leptospirosis at time of outbreak. Other antibiotics, such as Ampicillin, Penicillin or others are prescribed to treat this infection. In more serious cases, antibiotics can be given intravenously. The patients with this infection should not be isolated, but attention should be taken while disposing or handling their urine.
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| Category |
Disease Conditions > L
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| Related Searches |
canine leptospirosis, prevention of leptospirosis |
| Date Submitted |
20-Oct-2005
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