Leptospirosis : A quick overview

1. What is leptospirosis?

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• a systemic disease caused by a bacteria called Leptospira
• causing symptoms like
• headache
• cough
• fever
• flu-like illness
• muscle pain
• nausea/ vomiting
• abdominal pain
• jaundice
• hepatosplenomegaly
• people get infected through animal urine (commonly rat), contaminated water or soil

2. How to diagnose leptospirosis?

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• blood tests
• leptospirosis IgM / IgG
• leptospirosis PCR and serology
• other investigation tests
• FBC, LFT, coagulation test, RP, CSF, CXR

3. How to treat leptospirosis?

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• general measures
• fluid management
• antipyretics and analgesia 
• antibiotics
• mild to moderate 
• oral doxycycline 100mg BD for 5-7 days
• alternative : Azithromycin 500mg OD for 3 days
• severe (multiorgan involvement)
• IV Ceftriaxone 2g OD for 7 days
• alternative : Benzylpenicillin 1.5 mega unit QID for 7 days 
• ICU admission if indicated

4. What are the complications of leptospirosis?

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• multiorgan failure
• chronic uveitis
• chronic headache
• death (mostly due to lung involvement)