Leptospirosis is a disease caused by Leptospira bacteria that can be transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa. Leptospirosis is also often known by other names, namely Weil's disease; Swineherd's disease; Rice-field fever; Icterohemorrhagic fever; Cane-cutter fever; Swamp fever; mud fever; hemorrhagic jaundice; Stuttgart disease; Canicola fever . Leptospira bacteria are aerobic Spirochaeta (require oxygen to survive), motile (able to move), gram negative, wrinkled in shape. Leptospira bacteria are 6-20 µm long and 0.1-0.2 µm in diameter.
Leptospira bacteria, can be found in soil, water, wet soil, or plants that have been contaminated by urine, blood, or tissue from rodents, including rats. This often occurs when there is a flood, and this Leptospirosis disease can become an outbreak. Leptospirosis does not spread from person to person, except in rare cases when it is transmitted through breast milk or from mother to unborn child
Animals that most often transmit leptospirosis are:
- Mice and other rodents
- Pig
- Dog
- Reptiles and amphibians
- Cow
The common symptoms of Leptospirosis are diseases that often occur in 2 (two) phases, namely:
First phase
The first phase, which usually lasts 5 (five) days to 7 (seven) days, begins suddenly with symptoms that include:
- High fever
- Vomit
- Diarrhea
- Red eye
- Muscle pain (especially thigh muscles and calf muscles)
- Rash
- Chills
- Headache
Second phase
The second phase of the disease (immune phase) can occur 1 (one) to 2 (two) weeks later, with symptoms including:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Kidney failure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Lung problems
- Inflammation of the lining of the brain
- Red eye
The risk factors for getting leptospirosis are higher in the following conditions:
- People who work outdoors or with animals, among others, farmers, veterinarians, butchers, sewer workers, slaughterhouse workers, etc.
- Camping people
- Soldier
- Miners
- People who often bathe in fresh water lakes, rivers or canals
The people mentioned above are not necessarily confirmed to have leptospirosis, but a diagnosis must be made first
Things that need to be considered in diagnosing leptospirosis are the history of the disease, clinical symptoms and the diagnosis of medical investigations. Diagnostic medical support examinations, among others, can be done by examining urine and blood. Urine examination is very useful for diagnosing Leptospirosis because Leptospira bacteria are present in the urine from the start of the disease and will persist until the third week, while other body fluids containing Leptospira are blood and cerebrospinal fluid, but the range of opportunities for bacterial isolation is very short. In addition, it is possible to isolate Leptospira bacteria from soft tissues or body fluids of sufferers, for example liver, muscle, skin and eye tissue, however, it is rather difficult and takes several months. A comprehensive examination can be carried out at EMC Tangerang Hospital or at a hospital that has adequate laboratory facilities
Mild leptospirosis can be treated with the antibiotics doxycycline, ampicillin, or amoxicillin. Meanwhile, severe leptospirosis can be treated with penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin and erythromycin. Before getting this treatment, you should first consult a doctor
Some of the efforts to prevent leptospirosis that can be done include:
- Vaccination of animals Because it can protect against certain forms of Leptospira bacteria, but does not provide long-term immunity.
- Wear protective equipment: waterproof shoes, goggles, gloves when coming into contact with things that have a risk of contracting Leptospira bacteria.
- Avoid stagnant water, and water from agricultural waterways, and minimize animal contamination of food or waste.
- Prepare sanitation
- Correct rat control to help prevent the spread of Leptospira bacteria.
With these efforts and keep trying to maintain a healthy life, we can avoid the disease.
Article written by Dr. Suharnowo, Sp.PD (Internal Medicine Specialist, Tangerang EMC Hospital ).
