Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Test and Diagnosis

Laboratory parameters of 1st order – obligatory laboratory tests. Small blood count [thrombocytopenia; decrease in platelets/platelets]. Inflammatory parameters – CRP (C-reactive protein) or PCT (procalcitonin). Liver parameters – alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT), glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT, GGT), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin. Renal parameters – urea, creatinine, cystatin C or … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Test and Diagnosis

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Drug Therapy

Therapeutic targets Elimination of the pathogens Avoidance of complications Therapy recommendations It is unclear whether antibiotic therapy is effective because organ manifestations are essentially due to an immune response. If antibiotic therapy is given, it should be started as early as only possible! Selection of antibiotics according to the severity of the disease process: Mild … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Drug Therapy

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Medical History

Medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of leptospirosis (Weil disease). Family history What is the current health status of your relatives? Social history What is your profession? What are your hobbies? Do you have contact with animals? Have you been abroad recently? If yes, where? Current medical history/systemic history … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Medical History

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases (E00-E90). Hereditary fructose intolerance – congenital fructose intolerance. Cardiovascular system (I00-I99) Budd-Chiari syndrome – thrombotic occlusion of the hepatic veins. Pulmonary embolism – occlusion of one or more pulmonary vessels by a thrombus (blood clot). Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99). Acute hepatitis (inflammation of the liver). Lyme disease – infectious … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Or something else? Differential Diagnosis

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Complications

The following are the most important diseases or complications that may be contributed to by leptospirosis (Weil disease): Respiratory system (J00-J99) ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome; shock lung). Eyes and eye appendages (H00-H59). Chorioretinitis – inflammation of the choroid (choroid) with retinal (retina) involvement. Iritis (inflammation of the menstrual membrane). Iridocyclitis – inflammation of the … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Complications

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps: General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; furthermore: Inspection (viewing). Skin, mucous membranes, and sclerae (white part of the eye) [conjunctivitis (conjunctivitis); jaundice (jaundice); exanthema (rash)] [due todifferential diagnoses: morbilli (measles); erythema infectiosum (ringworm); rubella (rubella); … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Examination

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Diagnostic Tests

Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, and obligatory laboratory parameters – for differential diagnostic clarification. Abdominal sonography (ultrasound examination of abdominal organs) – for basic diagnostics. Electrocardiogram (ECG; recording of the electrical activity of the heart muscle) – recording of the current waveform of the heart. Computed … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Diagnostic Tests

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Prevention

To prevent leptospirosis (Weil disease), care must be taken to reduce risk factors. Disease-related risk factors Infectious and parasitic diseases (A00-B99). Infection with bacterium Directly through contact with infected animals Indirectly through contact with infected water, etc. Vulnerable groups of people are sewer workers, animal caretakers or employees of sewage treatment plants or on farms. … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Prevention

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

The following symptoms and complaints may indicate leptospirosis (Weil disease): Symptoms of the anicteric form of progression (form of progression without jaundice). High fever, chills. Myalgia (muscle pain), especially affecting the calves, back, and abdomen (stomach) Arthralgia (pain in the limbs) Cephalgia (headache) Photophobia (photophobia) Sore throat Vomiting Diarrhea (diarrhea) States of confusion Coughing Chest … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Symptoms, Complaints, Signs

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Causes

Pathogenesis (disease development) Circa 200 serovars of leptospires can be distinguished, among the human pathogens: Leptospira icterohaemorrhagica (Weil’s disease). Leptospira canicola (canicola fever). Leptospira bataviae (field, mud, harvest fever). Leptospira pomona (pig guardian disease). Leptospires occur worldwide. Transmission occurs directly/indirectly from animals to humans. In Germany, most infections occur through contact with sewage or sludge … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Causes

Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Therapy

General measures Observance of the general hygiene measures! In the occurrence of fever: Bed rest and physical rest (even if fever is only mild; if limb pain and lassitude occur without fever, bed rest and physical rest is also required, because myocarditis/heart muscle inflammation could occur as a result of the infection). Fever below 38.5 … Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease): Therapy