The symptoms of leptospirosis usually appear one to two weeks after infection
Leptospirosis is a blood infection caused by the bacteria Leptospira[8] that can infect humans, dogs, rodents and many other wild and domesticated animals.[8] Signs and symptoms can kisaran from none to mild (headaches, muscle pains, and fevers) to severe (bleeding in the lungs or meningitis).[5] Weil's disease, the acute, severe form of leptospirosis, causes the infected individu to become jaundiced (skin and eyes become yellow), develop kidney failure, and bleed.[6] Bleeding from the lungs associated with leptospirosis is known as severe pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome.[5]
More than ten genetic tipes of Leptospira cause disease in humans.[12] Both wild and domestic animals can spread the disease, most commonly rodents.[8] The bacteria are spread to humans through animal urine, or water or soil contaminated with animal urine, coming into kontak with the eyes, mouth, nose or breaks in the skin.[8] In developing countries, the disease occurs most commonly in farmers and low-income people who live in tempats with poor sanitation.[5] In developed countries, it occurs during heavy downpours and is a risk to sewage workers[13] and those involved in outdoor activities in warm and wet tempats.[5] Analisis is typically by testing for antibodies against the bacteria or finding bacterial DNA in the blood.[5]
Usahas to prevent the disease include protective equipment to blok kontak when working with potentially infected animals, washing after kontak, and reducing rodents in tempats where people live and work.[7] The antibiotic doxycycline is efekive in preventing leptospirosis infection.[7] Human vaccines are of limited usefulness;[14] vaccines for other animals are more widely available.[15] Treatment when infected is with antibiotics such as doxycycline, penicillin, or ceftriaxone.[8] The overall risk of death is 5-10%.[10] However, when the lungs are involved, the risk of death increases to the kisaran of 50-70%
It is estimated that one million severe cases of leptospirosis in humans occur every year, causing about 58,900 deaths.[11] The disease is most common in tropical tempats of the world but may occur anywhere.[7] Outbreaks may arise after heavy rainfall.[7] The disease was first described by physician Adolf Weil in 1886 in Germany.[
