Leptospirosis is a rare and severe infection that occurs when you come in contact with Leptospira bacteria.
The Leptospira bacteria can be found in fresh water that has been contaminated by animal urine. The infection occurs in warmer climates.
It is not spread from person to person, except in vary rare cases when it is spread through breast milk or from a mother to her unborn child.
Risk factors include:
Leptospirosis is rare in the continental United States. Hawaii has the highest number of cases in the United States.
Symptoms can take 2 - 26 days (average 10 days) to develop, and may include:
Less common symptoms include:
The blood is tested for antibodies to the bacteria.
Other tests that may be done:
Medications to treat leptospirosis include:
Complicated or serious cases may need supportive care or treatment in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU).
The outlook is generally good. However, a complicated case can be life-threatening if it is not treated promptly.
Contact your health care provider if you have any symptoms of, or risk factors for, leptospirosis.
Avoid areas of stagnant water, especially in tropical climates. If you are exposed to a high risk area, taking doxycycline or amoxicillin may decrease your risk of developing this disease.
Weil disease; Icterohemorrhagic fever; Swineherd's disease; Rice-field fever; Cane-cutter fever; Swamp fever; Mud fever; Hemorrhagic jaundice; Stuttgart disease; Canicola fever
Ko AI. Leptospirosis. In Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 331.
Levett PN, Haake DA. Leptospira species (leptospirosis). In:Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2009:chap 240.
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M. Health Solutions, Ebix, Inc.
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