A Patient's Guide to Leptospirosis

By John Smith

Leptospirosis is a relatively rare bacterial illness that affects animals (particularly rats, mice, moles, birds, amphibians and reptiles) and humans. At least five variations in the bacteria exist in the U.S: Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, and Bratislava. Other variants worldwide include Valbuzzi and Leptospira interrogaris sensu stricto. It leads to a variety of symptoms, while a few people could have no symptoms at all. If you or a loved one has contracted leptospirosis, this must-have book gives you all you need to know about the disease and its cures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andale LLC
• Release date: Oct 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465884435

John Smith

John was born in Norwich, Norfolk from a merchant family. He made his first dives among the wrecks on the east coast of the North Sea. For few years he worked on British oil rigs and then moved to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt where he worked as an underwater guide. After he moved to Thailand and then to the Philippines. He now lives in Florida where he is a diver and writes novels. His articles on diving and marine biology have been published in many magazines

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A Patient's Guide to Leptospirosis

John Smith MA

Mohamed Awad MD

Smashwords Edition

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Copyright 2011 John Smith MA M Awad MD

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Contents

One: Introduction

Two: Symptoms and signs

Three: Diagnosis

Four: Treatment

Five: Related Organizations

Six: How the Adrenals and Kidneys Work

Glossary of Medical Terms

Appendix A: Internet Resources/Further Reading

One: Introduction

Leptospirosis is a relatively rare bacterial illness that affects animals (particularly rats, mice, moles, birds, amphibians and reptiles) and humans. At least five variations in the bacteria exist in the U.S: Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, and Bratislava. Other variants worldwide include Valbuzzi and Leptospira interrogaris sensu stricto. It leads to a variety of symptoms, while a few people could have no symptoms at all.

The disease is due to a spiral-shaped micro-organism called spirochete. A definite diagnosis needs lab testing of a blood or urine sample. Early detection is crucial as the illness may cause heavy complications if not treated early in its course. These include kidney damage (nephrosis), meningitis (inflammation of the tissue round the brain or spinal cord), respiratory distress and / or liver failure. It is also known as Black Jaundice, Canefield Fever, Canicola Fever, Field Fever, Mud Fever, Pretibial fever, Rat Catcher’s Yellows, Seven Day Fever, Spirochetosis, Swineherd Disease or Weil’s Syndrome. Unless you live in the tropics, you are more likely to catch the disease in August, September, February and March.

History

The disease was discovered by Adolf Weil in 1886. However, Leptospira bacteria wasn’t seen under the microscope until 1886. Leptospirosis was a major cause of death among the Native American population in coastal Massachusetts before the Pilgrims arrived in 1620. While some experts think that the disease was brought over by Europeans, an uncontested fact is that the Native American lifestyle exposed them to high risk factors such as proximity to the animal environment. Epidemics sometimes occur in modern times, three of the most recent being in the Indian Andaman Islands in the 1980s, the Philippines in 2009 and in Ireland in 2010. World War II saw many cases of leptospirosis, likely because of the proximity of troops to rats in the trenches. When the disease hit the Andaman Islands in the 1980s, it was first called Andaman Hemorrhagic Fever (AHF) but was later identified as leptospirosis.

Prevention

The danger of infection could be significantly reduced by avoiding contact with waters that might be polluted with animal urine. People who work in roles where this could be an occupational danger, should wear suitable protective clothing to avoid skin contact if at all possible. For example, leptospirosis is transmitted in the semen, urine and blood of animals, potentially exposing slaughterhouse workers to the disease. Therefore, slaughterhouse workers should wear protective clothing including gloves. It is also common in surfers and whitewater paddlers, veterinarians, farmers and sewer workers. However, in the developed world, preventative measures are typically in place that protects most groups of workers from exposure. Anywhere where rodents and people mix are potential areas of concern, including swimming holes, cane-growing and rice-farming. Perhaps the greatest danger in the Westernized world is from swimming. Many cases are reported each year from recreational swimmers who most likely contracted the disease because of swallowing infected water. Fishing can also be hazardous to the health - anglers are