Ever come back from a muddy river or cleanup after floods and felt like you had the flu? That could be more than a bug. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection you can pick up from water or soil contaminated with animal urine—often rodents. Most people get a mild illness, but it can turn serious and affect the liver, kidneys, or lungs. Knowing the signs and what to do makes a huge difference.
The bacteria live in animals—rats, mice, farm animals, and even pets. They shed the bug in urine, which can contaminate puddles, streams, and wet soil. You don’t need a bite; the bacteria can enter through cuts, grazes, or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth). High-risk people include farmers, sewer workers, vets, adventure travelers, and anyone cleaning flood-damaged homes. Travel to tropical regions and recreational exposure (kayaking, rafting) also raises risk.
Incubation is usually 2–14 days but can be up to 30 days. Symptoms often look like a bad flu: fever, chills, muscle aches (especially calves and lower back), headache, nausea, and red eyes. Most recover quickly, but watch for warnings: yellowing skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, reduced urine output, trouble breathing, chest pain, high fever, severe headache, or confusion. Those signs need urgent medical care.
Early testing can be tricky. Doctors may order PCR or blood tests; PCR detects the bacteria in the first week, while antibody tests (serology) are more useful a bit later. If leptospirosis is suspected, treatment shouldn’t wait for perfect test results. Mild cases are commonly treated with doxycycline (often 100 mg twice daily for about 7 days). More severe cases get IV antibiotics like penicillin or ceftriaxone and hospital care for organ support.
There’s limited use of single-dose doxycycline (200 mg) as short-term prophylaxis after a high-risk exposure, but that should only be done on medical advice. Prevention is simpler and practical: avoid wading in unknown water, wear waterproof boots and gloves when working in wet areas, cover cuts, control rodents at home and work, and vaccinate livestock and pets where vaccines exist. There isn’t a widely available human vaccine in most countries, so prevention relies on reducing exposure.
If you’ve been exposed and develop fever or odd symptoms, tell your clinician about the exposure—where you were, what you did, and when. Early treatment lowers the risk of complications. For travelers and workers at risk, a bit of preparation—protective gear, wound care, and quick access to care—goes a long way toward staying safe.
Health and Wellness