Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis

August 15, 2022 People's Tonight 273 views

SINCE January 1, 2022, the dreaded leptospirosis, a rare bacterial infection that people get from rats, rodents and farm animals, has claimed the lives of 156 people.

Fears about the disease killing and infecting more people in various parts of the country were heightened amid frequent rains that caused flooding in many low-lying areas.

The bacteria can easily spread in floodwaters and infect wounds or breaks in the skin, said Department of Health officer-in-charge Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire.

Called “leptospira interrogans,” the bacterium can also enter the body through the nose, mouth and genitals.

When the disease does hit, it hits fast. You will get a fever, which may spike to 104 F. Other symptoms include headache, muscle ache, vomitting and yellowing of the skin and eyes.

But the disease can be treated with antibiotics, including penicillin and doxycyline. Likewise, medical doctors may recommend ibuprofen for fever and muscle pain.

The early arrival of the rainy season this year has been blamed for the increase in the number of leptospirosis cases in this poverty-stricken Southeast Asian nation.

The Department of Health (DOH) registered a total of 1,178 cases from January 1 to July 23, which is higher compared to the 928 cases during the same period last year.

With the threat of more leptospirosis cases, we urge concerned authorities to focus on measures aimed at destroying the favorite breeding places of rats and rodents.

We share the view of Vergeire that there’s that need to always maintain cleanlinesss and avoid wading in floodwaters, notably those with open wounds and scratches.

AUTHOR PROFILE