A good reason to avoid contaminated water bodies: Leptospirosis.

7 months ago

Leptospirosis is a disease with the capacity to affect both animals and humans. it is spread through the urine of an infected animal, which could find its way into water bodies or soil and survive from weeks to months. Different kinds of animals, both wild and domestic can carry the bacterium responsible for the infection, with the name bacteria Leptospira.

Infection is caused by cuts in the skin, eyes, nose, and mouth. So, upon one of the following methods, transmission of the disease is a possibility;

Contact directly with urine or reproductive fluids from an animal that is infected.
The consumption of contaminated water or food.
Contact with contaminated soil or water.

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Leptospirosis can affect people from any region, but it is more common amongst those who live in tropical regions and warmer climates, where rain consistently falls every year. So, we can say that those who live in regions like South and Southeast Asia, some parts of Latin America, the Caribbean, some parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and Oceania stand a high chance of getting the disease.

There are two phases of Leptospirosis; The acute phase which is the leptospirosis phase, the other is the delayed phase, also called the immune phase. In the earlier mentioned phase, there are usually no symptoms or maybe mild symptoms in some cases, but the immune phase is where we have people develop some really strong symptoms.

During the phase of leptospirosis, it comes with flu-like symptoms, one that usually starts within 2-14 days after the infection has occurred, and then lasts for about 3-10 days. With this phase, bacteria in the bloodstream begin to move toward the organ of the affected person. It is seen through a blood test that, there is an infection.

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In the immune phase, the bacteria called Leptospira has then moved successfully from the blood to the organs. With more emphasis on the kidney, and with urine tests, signs of the bacteria will be shown. A small number of people will get sick with Weil's syndrome when this happens, Weil's syndrome creates internal bleeding, damage to the kidney, and jaundice (characterized by serious yellowing of the skin and eyes).

Remember we mentioned earlier that it is a zoonotic disease, so let's see the effect it will have on humans.

In some cases, flu-like symptoms occur, and in some other cases, there are no symptoms at all. In a severe case, there will be symptoms of internal bleeding and organ damage.

When acute leptospirosis happens, the symptoms usually come up suddenly, creating symptoms such as; headache, red eye, high fever, muscle ache, cold, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, rash, and jaundice.

In a severe case, symptoms of leptospirosis will begin to develop about 3-10 days later, with re-curring; chest pain, coughing out blood, difficulty breathing, blood in the urine, severe yellowing of the skin, reduction in the amount of urine produced, and red spots on the skin with the appearance of a rash.

An outbreak of Leptospirosis can happen, in the case of heavy rain and flood, the floodwater washing into lakes, rivers, and canals, carrying bacteria along with them. Now, when this contaminated water or soil gets into the nose, and mouth or breaks into the skin through an open touch or there is a direct touch with urine or other body fluids from an animal with leptospirosis.

Spreading Leptospirosis from one infected human to another human is very rare. For animals, it is commonly found in dogs, pigs, cows, horses, porcupines, rodents like rats or mice, and horses.
The risk of getting the disease is higher for humans who;

Camp on an outer region.
Participate in outdoor sports.
Work in areas like mine or sewage.
Live in regions with improper sanitation.
People who are used to handling contaminated or potentially contaminated soil.
Working with animals.

Leptospirosis can be reduced through effective treatment, treatment is dependent on how severe it is, but in the absence of treatments, complications can happen; Kidney damage, meningitis, respiratory issues, liver failure, and death of a fetus for those who are pregnant.

In a mild case, simple treatment like; consuming lots of fluid, taking enough rest, and taking over-the-counter pain relieves. Intravenous administration of antibiotics is for a severe case of leptospirosis. Coughing, persistent fever, chills, stiff neck, headache, unexplained vomiting, jaundice, and red eye are clear signs that there is a need to see a doctor immediately.

There is no vaccine in most parts of the world against Leptospirosis, the best way to have it prevented is to avoid swimming or wandering in water that may have animal urine in it. If need to travel to regions with a high case of leptospirosis, you may want to ask for medications that will prevent you from getting sick. Also, try to put on protective clothes in case you work with or work around animals.