Cause: Leptospira bacteria
Incubation Period: 7-10 days
Mode of Transmission:
- Entry of the leptospira bacteria through wounds when in contact with flood waters,
- vegetation, moist soil contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rats.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Fever
- Non-specific symptoms of muscle pain, headache
- Calf-muscle pain and reddish eyes fro some cases
- Severe cases result tot liver involvement, kidney failure or brain involvement. Thus some
- cases may have yellowish body discoloration, dark-colored urine and light stools, low urine
- output, severe headache.
Treatment:
- Antibiotics duly prescribed by a physician.
- Early recognition and treatment within two days of illness to prevent complications of
- leptospirosis, so early consultation is advised.
Prevention and Control:
- Avoid swimming or wading in potentially contaminated water or flood water.
- Use of proper protection like boots and gloves when work requires exposure to
- contaminated water.
- Drain potentially contaminated water when possible.
- Control rats in the household by using rat traps or rat poison, maintaining cleanliness in
- the house.
