Cattle, pigs, horses, dogs, and rodents can all be carriers and may not have any symptoms of infection themselves. If the urine of these animals infects the environment, especially soil and water, then human beings have a greater chance of getting infected. Infection can pass onto humans through any cuts, scrapes, scratches, worn-out area on their body. They can also be infected via the mucous membrane of the eyes, nose, and mouth. Drinking contaminated water can also cause infection. Person to person infection is very rare.
Floodwater, Rivers, and Lakes:
Outbreaks of leptospirosis are more common when there are floods as the water can be contaminated from bacteria in the soil. When people wade through the flood waters they can get infected, especially if they have any cuts on the feet and legs. In cities the carriers are mainly dogs and rats. Each time they pass urine they will infect the soil from where the bacteria reach the floodwater. Sometimes people can also contract the disease from swimming, kayaking or rafting in rivers and lakes that could be contaminated, though the chances are less.
Make sure to tell the doctor if you have been in floodwater with concurrent symptoms like high fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Avoid wading in water near drains, septic tanks, and garbage dumps.
Symptoms
Symptoms are wide ranging and sometimes there are no signs of the disease. Sometimes the infection is mistaken for other diseases. Usually the infection takes 2 to 4 weeks to show signs. It begins with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea. The patient may recover for a time, but can become ill again, then treatment may become compulsory.
If a person has been exposed to flood water or has been in rivers and lakes and any of the following symptoms appear, then a proper medical check-up is required:
High fever
eadache
Chills
Muscle aches
Vomiting
Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
Red eyes
Abdominal pain
Prevention
It is quite impossible to tell if any particular water body or lake is really free from this contagion. It is just not practical to avoid all water related activities or sports. However, if there have been incidences or cases reported, one must take all the necessary precautions, especially if one has cuts or scratches.
Here’s what you could do to protect yourself from this deadly infection.
- Never walk through stagnant water on the roads or near garbage dumps and drains.
- When going out in the flooded street, make sure you use adhesive tape to cover cuts and scratches.
- Use gum boots if possible when going out into areas that are waterlogged.
- Make sure to clean your feet and legs with soap and clean water if you have had to walk through dirty street water.
- The best prevention is to avoid walking in waterlogged areas or in flood waters.
Treatment
The disease can be treated with antibiotics and that is usually enough to control the disease in the early stages. If the symptoms are severe, then intravenous injections may be required.
