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Leptospirosis - Treatment

Alternative Names

Weil disease; Icterohemorrhagic fever; Swineherd's disease; Rice-field fever; Cane-cutter fever; Swamp fever; Mud fever; Hemorrhagic jaundice; Stuttgart disease; Canicola fever

Treatment:

Medications to treat leptospirosis include:

  • Ampicillin
  • Ceftriaxone
  • Doxycycline
  • Penicillin

Complicated or serious cases may need supportive care or treatment in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU).

Expectations (prognosis):

The outlook is generally good. However, a complicated case can be life-threatening if it is not treated promptly.

Complications:

  • Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction when penicillin is given
  • Meningitis
  • Severe bleeding

Calling your health care provider:

Contact your health care provider if you have any symptoms of, or risk factors for, leptospirosis.

  • Reviewed last on: 8/14/2010
  • David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Ko AI. Leptospirosis. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 344.

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