The wet season has officially started in the Philippines. For Pinoys this means more walks in the rain (not the romantic variety, unfortunately) due to submerged roads and neighborhoods. Aside from the visible inconvenience of getting your clothes soaked and shoes all wet and dirty while braving knee-deep floodwater, there is also leptospirosis, a far more sinister threat.
Understanding Leptospirosis
According to the website of the US Center for Disease Control, “Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals... In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases”. Leptospirosis occurs worldwide, but is most common in temperate or tropical climates. Every year, more and more Filipinos are afflicted, prompting the Department of Health (DOH) to describe the situation as a “surge”, noting that most leptospirosis cases occur in the aftermath of typhoons and massive flooding caused by the heavy monsoon rains. Leptospirosis is caused by the leptospira bacteria found in both wild and domestic animals, including rats, dogs, cattle, pigs, horses and insectivores (carnivorous mammals that survive by eating small insects). Of particular concern are rats since they shed large amounts of leptospires in their urine. Human transmission occurs through contact of the skin and mucous membranes (such as the eyes) with urine-contaminated water, damp soil, vegetation or mud. It takes about 2 days to 4 weeks after exposure before manifestations appear.
Symptoms of Leptospirosis
The CDC website said the following symptoms of leptospirosis are:
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Chills
- Muscle pain
- Vomiting
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
- Redness in the eyes
- Abdominal Pain
- Diarrhea
- Rash
Illness usually begins abruptly with fever and other symptoms. Leptospirosis may occur in two phases:
- After the first phase – (with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting or diarrhea) the patient may recover for a time but become ill again.
- If a second phase occurs, it is more severe, the person may have kidney or liver failure or meningitis. This phase is also called Weil’s disease.
The illness lasts from a few days to three weeks or even longer. Without treatment, recovery may take several months. If left untreated, leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death. If you think the risk of getting leptospirosis is limited to typhoon or flood victims, think again, since the disease has also been associated with fun activities such as swimming, wading, kayaking, and rafting in contaminated lakes and rivers. It is considered a “recreational hazard” for campers or those who participate in outdoor sports.
Treatment for Leptospirosis
According to the DOH, patients diagnosed with leptospirosis should be treated with antibiotics, such as doxycycline or penicillin, which should be administered early in the course of the disease. Intravenous antibiotics maybe required for persons with more severe symptoms. The agency does not recommend doxycycline pregnant women and children below eight years old. Risks can be greatly reduced by not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine, or eliminating contact with potentially infected animals. Protective clothing or footwear (rubber boots) should be worn by those exposed to contaminated water or soil. Please take note pets are also as susceptible to this disease as their owners. The bacteria that cause leptospirosis are spread through urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and survive there for weeks to months. To help prevent infection, keep rodent problems under control (rats, mice and other animal pests). Rodents can carry the bacteria and cause the disease. So if you just happen to have a pedicure or a cuticle removed, it might be a good idea to take some precautions and stay indoors (read a book, catch a nice movie) in the event of heavy rains.
