Leptospira Infection: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by spiral-shaped bacteria Leptospira in humans and animals . In humans, this disease causes a series of symptoms and can be fatal. In Vietnam, about 5% of patients have Leptospira detected in their serum. The Leptospira IgG/IgM test provides initial preliminary test results, supporting the diagnosis of leptospirosis infection.

Overview of Leptospira infection

What is a spirochete?

Bacteria (sometimes also called germs) are a group of single-celled prokaryotic microorganisms that are very small in size - can only be observed with a microscope - found everywhere such as soil, water, air, even symbiotic and parasitic in other organisms. Spirochetes are spiral-shaped bacteria, commonly found as spirochete causing syphilis, spirochete causing yellow fever .

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans caused by spiral-shaped bacteria Leptospira. Leptospirosis is a dangerous disease that can lead to systemic poisoning, bleeding, liver and kidney failure, leading to a high risk of death for the patient.

Causes of Leptospira infection

• Leptospira spirochetes appear in the urine, blood, and internal organs of rodents, livestock, reptiles, and amphibians, of which mice and rodents are the most important hosts.
• Leptospira enter the human body through wounds on the skin, through moist skin, through mucous membranes of organs such as the nose, mouth, or by swallowing sources containing pathogens. Patients become infected with Leptospira when organs such as the eyes, nose, mouth or open wounds, scratches come into contact with urine, blood, secretions, tissues of animals carrying the pathogen or are infected through bites of animals carrying the bacteria.
• In addition, patients can also get the disease due to contact with contaminated water or soil infected with disease-causing bacteria.

Image of Leptospira interrogans.

Symptoms of Leptospira infection

Symptoms of Leptospira infection include 2 stages:

• The first stage lasts from 5 to 7 days, starting suddenly with symptoms including: High fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches, rash, chills, headache.
• The second stage may appear after 1-2 weeks with symptoms such as: Jaundice with symptoms such as yellowing of the face and eyes, systemic poisoning, bleeding, liver and kidney failure, lung problems, irregular heartbeat, meningitis.

Leptospira infection is very dangerous. If the patient is not diagnosed and treated promptly, it will cause life-threatening complications.

People at risk for Leptospira infection

• Leptospira infection is a common disease that occurs in all subjects and all ages. Some subjects are susceptible to the disease such as those who work outdoors or often come into contact with animals such as veterinarians, farmers, sewer workers, slaughterhouse workers, poultry traders, miners.
• Leptospira infection is a disease that is only transmitted from animals or disease sources to humans and not from person to person.

Prevention of Leptospira infection

• For livestock and poultry, animals at risk of disease need to be fully vaccinated to prevent disease. The place of confinement needs to be checked and cleaned regularly, ensuring that the animals are healthy and isolated when sick.
• For people in contact: It is necessary to take protective measures when in contact with animals, inform them and take measures to treat and isolate them when they are sick. In addition, people should also improve their body's resistance by exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, and eating a nutritious and scientific diet. When symptoms of the disease are detected, it is necessary to see a specialist to determine the disease and have the best treatment.

Diagnostic measures for Leptospira infection

Diagnosis of Leptospira infection is based on clinical examination combined with diagnostic tests.

• Clinical examination checks for symptoms of Leptospira infection. Doctors will check the symptoms that the patient has to differentiate from other diseases such as dengue fever and give the most appropriate test and treatment instructions for the patient.
• Blood tests to find the cause of the disease help determine the cause and evaluate the progression of the disease such as infection, organ damage, especially in cases where the disease has acute complications.
• Culture and isolate blood and secretions of patients to find the exact cause to support the doctor's diagnosis and provide appropriate and timely treatment for the patient.
• X-ray, ultrasound, and imaging techniques are used to find lesions and complications in order to properly assess the patient's condition for appropriate treatment.

Treatment of Leptospira infection

From diagnostic measures, accurately determining the cause helps doctors guide and treat in the best way.

In most cases, Leptospira infection is mild and resolves itself within a short period of time. However, if the patient is subjective and ignores it, the disease can progress to a dangerous stage and affect life.

When the disease progresses, the patient needs to be monitored and treated actively to avoid the disease progressing and becoming life-threatening. In this case, doctors will use antibiotics according to treatment recommendations and at the same time implement supportive measures to improve symptoms such as intubation and blood filtration. After treatment, the patient needs to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment and rest, care, and nutritional supplements to recover quickly.