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Leptospirosis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

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:

Penicillins, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and erythromycin can be given to treat leptospirosis. Supportive care needs to be given in complicated cases.

Expectations (prognosis):

The outlook is generally good, although death is possible if a complicated case is not treated promptly.

Complications:

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

Calling your health care provider:

If you have any of the signs, symptoms, or risk factors for leptospirosis, contact your health care provider.

• Review Date: 9/25/2006
• Reviewed By: Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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