Leptospirosis is an infectious transmitted to humans from domestic animals, the pathogen of which is identified as the leptospira. It is also known by other names: Weil's disease, Weil's syndrome, canicola fever, canefield fever, nanukayami fever, 7-day fever, Rat Catcher's Yellows, Fort Bragg fever, and Pretibial fever. A zoonotic disease brought about by bacteria, leptospirosis affects not just warm blooded mammals (humans and animals) but also amphibians, reptiles, and birds. It is a well-known disease throughout the world but reported infections among humans are relatively infrequent. Reported infections are usually associated with floods since the transmission of the leptospirosis bacteria happens or is most opportune when infected animal urine that goes into the water comes in contact with open wounds (of humans who dip themselves in the contaminated water).
Symptoms in humans become observable after a four to fourteen day incubation period. The first phase of symptoms is flu-like characterized by fever, chills, myalgias, and intense headache. In the second phase, meningitis, liver damage, and renal failure occur. Leptospirosis is difficult to diagnose given its wide range of symptoms and an initial presentation that appears to be a case of pneumonia. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, jaundice, red eyes, vomiting, high fever, and rash.
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