Mumbai Rains: BMC Warns Citizens Over Leptospirosis Infection; Know About Exposure, Prevention, Risks & More

If Leptospirosis is left untreated, it can lead to kidney damage, liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death. Here's all you need to know.

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Mumbai: As the monsoon brings its familiar woes for Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday issued an advisory over leptospirosis warning that cases of the infection can spike with heavy rain being witnessed now and very heavy rain predicted in the city in the coming days.

People are likely to get infected by leptospirosis if they wade through waterlogged roads or walk on such streets without wearing gumboots, BMC stated.

People having injuries in their feet or body parts who walk through stagnant water fall in the ‘moderate risk’ group for this infection.

What Is Leptospirosis?

US CDC describes Leptospirosis as a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

The bacteria spreads through the urine of infected animals, which can get into water or soil and can survive there for weeks to months. Many different kinds of wild and domestic animals carry the bacterium. These can include Cattle, Pigs, Horses, Dogs, Rodents, and more.

The infected animals may have no symptoms of the disease but may continue to excrete the bacteria into the environment.

Exposure & Risks Associated

Humans can become infected through contact with urine (or other body fluids, except saliva) from infected animals.

In this case of heavy rains and stagnated water, the most pertinent is contact with water, soil, or food contaminated with the urine of infected animals.

The bacteria can enter the body through the skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth), especially if the skin is broken from a cut or scratch. Drinking contaminated water can also cause infection.

Outbreaks of leptospirosis are usually caused by exposure to contaminated water, such as floodwaters. Person-to-person transmission is rare, US CDS informs.

Symptoms

In humans, Leptospirosis symptoms can include high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea and rashes.

While some symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases, some infected persons may not experience any symptoms at all.

It can take 2 days to 4 weeks for a person to show symptoms after being exposed to the bacteria.

According to CDC, Illness usually begins abruptly with fever and other symptoms. It may occur in two phases:

• After the first phase (with fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea) the patient may recover for a time but become ill again.
• If a second phase occurs, it is more severe; the person may have kidney or liver failure or meningitis.

The illness can last from a few days to 3 weeks or longer. Without treatment, recovery may take several months.

Prevention & Treatment

The risk of getting infected can be reduced by:

• Not swimming or wading in water that might be contaminated with animal urine
• Eliminating contact with potentially infected animals.
• Wearing Protective clothing or footwear in case exposed to contaminated water or soil.

In case you experience the aforementioned symptoms, consult a doctor to seek diagnosis and the course ahead for treatment.