PHILIPPINE HEALTH ADVISORIES

What you should know about Leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis
is a bacterial infection transmitted by many animals, such as rodents and other vermin. Waste products (e.g., urine and feces) of an infected animal, especially rats, contaminate the soil, water, and vegetation.

Cause
Leptospira spirochetes bacteria

Mode of Transmission
Ingesting contaminated food or water or when broken skin or open wounds and mucous membrane (eyes, nose, sinuses, mouth) come in contact with contaminated water (usually flood water) or soil (Incubation period of bacteria is 7-10 days.)

Signs and Symptoms

• - Fever
• - Non-specific symptoms of muscle pain, headache
• - Calf-muscle pain and reddish eyes in some cases
• - Severe cases resulting in liver involvement, kidney failure, or brain involvement (Thus some cases may have yellowish body discoloration, dark-colored urine and light stools, low urine output, severe headache.)

Treatment

• - Take antibiotics duly prescribed by a physician.
• - Early recognition and treatment within
• - 2 days of illness prevents complications of leptospirosis, so early consultation is advised.

Prevention and Control

• - Avoid swimming or wading in potentially contaminated water or flood water..
• - Use proper protection, like boots and gloves, when work requires exposure to contaminated water.
• - Drain potentially contaminated water when possible.
• - Control rodents in the household by using rat traps or rat poison and maintaining cleanliness in the house.

References:

• - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Leptospirosis. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/
• - Cunha, John P. (2011). Leptospirosis). Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/leptospirosis/article.htm
• - DOH Philippines. (2012). Health Advisory on Leptospirosis.Image from http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20091025met2.

PHILIPPINE HEALTH ADVISORIES

Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever

- are acute viral infections that affect infants, young children, and adults.

Cause

- Bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses.

Mode of Transmission

- Transmitted by a day-biting mosquito called Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (These mosquitoes lay eggs in clear and stagnant water found in flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires, etc. The adult mosquitoes rest in dark places of the house.)

- Signs and Symptoms

- Sudden onset of high fever which may last from 2 to 7 days.

- Bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses.

- Joint and muscle pain and pain behind the eyes

- Weakness

- Skin rashes

- Nosebleeding when fever starts to subside

- Abdominal pain

- Vomiting of coffee-colored matter

- Dark-colored stools

- Difficulty of breathing

Treatment

• - Do not give aspirin for fever.
• - Give sufficient amount of water or rehydrate a dengue suspect.
• - If fever or symptoms persist for 2 or more days, bring the patient to the nearest hospital.

Prevention and Control

- Follow the 4-S against Dengue:

1. Search and Destroy
• - Cover water drums and pails.
• - Replace water in flower vases once a week.
• - Clean gutters of leaves and debris.
• - Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.
2. Self-Protection Measures
• - Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirt.
• - Use mosquito repellant every day.
3. Seek Early Consultation
• - Consult the doctors immediately if fever persists after 2 days and a rash appears.
4. Say Yes to Fogging When there is an Impending Outbreak or a Hotspot