LEPTOSPIROSIS

• Leptospirosis


  Zoonotic infectious bacterial disease carried by animals, both domestic and wild, whose urine contaminates water or food which is ingested or inoculated through the skin
• Other Terms


  • Canicola Fever
  • Hemorrhagic Jaundice
  • Mud Fever
  • Swine Herd Disease
  • Flood Fever
  • Trench Fever
  • Spirochetal Jaundice
  • Japanese Seven Days Fever
• Etiologic Agent


  Leptospira interrogans
• Incubation Period


  7 to 13 days (range 4 to 19 days)
• Mode of Transmission


  Direct contact on the skin through open wounds
• Clinical Manifestations


  1. Leptospiremic Phase (4 to 7 days)

  2. Immune Phase (4 to 30 days)

  3. Convalescence Phase
• Leptospiremic Phase Symptoms


  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Myalgia
  • Chest pain
• Immune Phase Symptoms


  • Meningeal irritation
  • Oliguria
  • Anuria
  • Severe cases (shock, coma, congestive, heart failure)
• Relapse may occur during the 4th to 5th week
• Laboratory Tests


  • ELISA
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Leptospira Antigen-antibody test
  • Leptospira Antibody Test
• Complications


  • Meningitis
  • Respiratory distress
  • Renal interstitial tubular necrosis
  • Cardiovascular problems
• Treatment


  • Doxycycline (Prophylactic)
  • Penicillin
  • Tetracycline
  • Erythromycin
• Nursing Management


  1. Isolate patient

  2. Darken patient's room

  3. Observe meticulous skin care

  4. Encourage Oral fluid intake
• Prevention & Control


  • Environment Sanitation
  • Proper Drainage System and Control of Rodents
  • Information dissemination campaign