LEPTOSPIROSIS IN ENGLISH
watch my youtube video to understand this topic in easy way-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWyx8KbcT6Y
LEPTOSPIROSIS-
}
Leptospirosis is a
bacterial diseases caused by Leptospira
and transmitted to human being by
urine or through water soil or food contaminated with urine of infected animal,
and most commonly the animal is a rat.
}
Leptospirosis
affects wild and domestic animals worldwide especially rodents such as rats,
mice and voles. Most domestic animals including cattle, sheep, goats, buffalo,
pigs and horses may be infected through grazing in areas contaminated by the
urine of the carrier host.
}
Leptospirosis is
considered to be the most widespread of the disease transmissible from animal
to man. It has worldwide occurrence
except polar regions. It has high prevalence in warm humid tropical
countries. Out breaks mostly occur as a result of heavy rainfall and consequent
floodings.
}
The disease is an
occupational hazard for rice and sugarcane fieldworkers, farmers, fish workers
miners, veterinarians, workers in animal husbandry, dairies and abattoirs,
sewer workers, and military troops; outbreaks occur among those exposed to
fresh river, stream, canal and lake water contaminated by the urine of domestic
and wild animals,
MODE OF TRANSMISSION-
}
Contact of the
skin, especially if abraded, or of mucous membranes with moist soil, vegetation
especially sugarcane contaminated with the urine of infected animals, or
contaminated water, as in swimming, wading in floodwaters, accidental immersion
or occupational abrasion; direct contact with urine or tissues of infected
animals; occasionally through drinking of water and ingestion of food contaminated
with urine of infected animals
SIGN AND SYMPTOMS-
}
Common features are
fever with sudden onset, headache, chills, severe myalgia (calves and thighs)
and conjunctival suffusion. Other manifestations that may be present are
diphasic fever, meningitis, hemolytic
anemia, hemorrhage into skin and mucous membranes
}
hepatorenal failure, jaundice, mental confusion and depression, myocarditis and pulmonary involvement
with or without hemorrhage and hemoptysis. In areas of endemic leptospirosis, a
majority of infections are clinically inapparent or too mild to be diagnosed
definitively.
}
Clinical illness
lasts from a few days to 3 weeks or longer. Generally, there are two phases in
the illness: the leptospiraemic or febrile stage, lasting 4 to 9 days, followed
by the convalescent or immune phase on the 6 to 12 day. Recovery of untreated
cases can take several months. Deaths are due predominantly to renal failure,
cardiopulmonary failure and widespread hemorrhage, rarely to liver failure.
DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATIONS-
}
The diagnosis is
made by isolation of leptospires from blood during the acute illness and from
urine after the first week.
}
Culture takes 1-6
weeks to become positive.
}
The IgM ELISA is
particularly useful in making an early diagnosis, as it is positive as early as
2 days.
TREATMENT-
}
Leptospirosis is
curable by use of antibiotics. Penicillin is the drug of choice but other
antibiotics (tetracycline or doxycycline) are also effective. Along ith antibiotics symptomatic treatment
is also given such as pain killers and antipyretics.
PREVENTION-
}
(a) VACCINATION :
Immunization of farmers and pets is recommended to prevent disease.
}
(b) ENVIRONMENTAL
MEASURES : This includes preventing exposure to potentially contaminated water,
reducing contamination by rodent control and proper disposal of wastes
}
(c) HEALTH
EDUCATION: Educate the public on modes of transmission, to avoid swimming or
wading in potentially contaminated waters and to use proper protection when
work requires such exposure.
}
(D) PERSONAL
PROTECTION: Protect workers in hazardous occupations by providing boots, gloves
and aprons
}
(E) CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS-
doxycycline (e.g. 200 mg in one weekly dose for as long as necessary) may be
effective in preventing leptospirosis in exposed persons in areas of high
exposure.
}
Other measures
include isolation and notification and early treatment of the patient.
Thank you sir
ReplyDelete