Leptospirosis Disease Burden in Kerala
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Why in News
- Kerala is currently facing a high burden of illness and mortality from leptospirosis, especially during its monsoon and post-monsoon seasons.
Key Features and Transmission of Leptospirosis
- Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection caused by spiral-shaped pathogenic bacteria from the genus Leptospira.
- Many wild and domestic mammals like rodents, cattle, pigs, and dogs host these bacteria in their kidney tubules.
- Carrier animals often show no symptoms but release bacteria through urine, making rodents the main cause of soil and water contamination.
- Humans catch the disease by touching contaminated water, soil, or food through skin cuts, while human-to-human transmission stays rare.
- Symptoms show up 5 to 14 days after exposure, starting with mild fever and sometimes advancing to severe Weil's syndrome or jaundice.
- Doctors frequently underdiagnose the condition because its initial signs closely resemble other common viral fevers.
- Healthcare providers treat patients using targeted antibiotics, including doxycycline, penicillin G, or ceftriaxone, based on disease severity.
- Preventive steps involve pest control, sanitation, and protective gear, although animal vaccines do not fully block kidney bacterial carriage.
- The disease impacts populations globally, with heavy incidence across South-East Asian nations including India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.