Infection caused by a type of bacteria of the genus Leptospira.
The bacterium affects animals such as rats, dogs, cattle, etc., and is shed in their urine. Humans acquire the infection by direct contact with infected animal tissues, direct contact with urine, or by contact with urine-contaminated water and/or soil.
It can behave as an occupational disease (farmers, farmers, slaughterhouse or sewage workers, sweepers, hunters, veterinarians...) or recreational disease (swimming in fresh water, kayaking, canoeing...).
Infection occurs mainly in tropical-subtropical areas with warm and humid climate, in the summer and autumn months.
Symptoms occur in phases:
- Onset of high fever, chills, headache, severe muscle aches, dry cough, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, etc.
- After 4-9 days there is a phase of apparent improvement.
- Fever and possible complications appear again, affecting kidneys, liver, nervous system, lungs and/or heart. There may be yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes, abdominal pain and distension, stiff neck, altered consciousness, chest pain and nosebleeds, pulmonary, digestive, urinary and skin haemorrhages.
Diagnosis is made by clinical history and physical examination. It is confirmed by observation of samples under dark-field microscopy, cultures and serological-PCR tests.
Treatment is based on antibiotics: in less severe cases oral ampicillin or amoxicillin is used. In more severe cases, intravenous penicillin or ampicillin and doxycycline are used.
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