Leptospirosis

Question 1

What causes leptospirosis?

Answer 1

Leptospira species

Question 2

How is leptospirosis spread?

Answer 2

From rat urine and enters through mucous membranes and cuts

Question 3

What do leptospira species look like?

Answer 3

Spirochaete species with ? ends

Question 4

What are the risk factors for leptospirosis?

Answer 4

Sewer workers
Swimmers
Slum dwellers
Rice farmers

Question 5

What are clinical syndromes do you get in leptospirosis?

Answer 5

Subclinical- common
Bacteraemia
Immune mediated

Question 6

What are he symptoms of bacteraemia leptospirosis?

Answer 6

Fever, myalgia, D+V

Conjunctival suffusion

Question 7

What are the immune mediated leptospirosis syndromes?

Answer 7

Aseptic meningitis
Hepatitis
Renal failure with hypokalaemia
Thrombocytopenia
Myocarditis
Pulmonary haemorrhage

Question 8

How do you diagnose leptospirosis?

Answer 8

Blood cultures, may be negative if past bacteraemia

Serology for IgM, detectable past day 5

Question 9

How do you treat leptospirosis?

Answer 9

Supportive, mainly self limiting

PO doxy or IV cephalosporins- reduces urinary shedding

Question 10

How do you prevent leptospirosis?

Answer 10

WASH and good housing
Rodent control
Chemical prophylaxis with PO doxy mainly for military