What is leptospirosis? All about deadly animal-borne infection Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann is suffering from

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tested positive for leptospirosis. From causes to symptoms, know all about this life-threatening animal disease.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been diagnosed with leptospirosis, a bacterial infection. He was admitted to the Fortis Hospital Mohali on Wednesday for a routine check-up. “At present, all vitals of the Chief Minister are completely stable. As suspected at the time of admission for tropical fever, his blood tests for leptospirosis came back positive,” according to a health bulletin issued by the hospital. It is said that the 50-year-old AAP leader has been given appropriate antibiotics. “All clinical features and pathological tests have shown satisfactory improvement.”

What is leptospirosis?

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by leptospira bacteria, which affects both humans and animals. It is typically transmitted through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or exposure to urine-contaminated environments like water or soil. The bacteria can enter the humans through cuts or abrasions on the skin, or via mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and mouth.

What are the symptoms?

The disease causes, very high temperature, headache, muscular pains, muscular pains, vomiting, diarrhoea. It also has eye involvement, sometimes with yellow patches or brown patches, depending upon the complexion, and pain in the abdomen.

How serious is the disease?

Speaking to IANS, Dr M Wali, Senior Consultant, Department of Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said, “leptospirosis is usually self-limiting, and can resolve within two weeks with antibiotics. “But if the infection is severe, then it can spread to the kidney, can go to the brain, spinal cord, liver. While the liver is mainly involved, in rare cases it can spread to the lungs.”

Importantly, the expert noted that the disease is difficult to diagnose and can thus remain in the body for some months. He further added, “Patients can go from one doctor to another doctor, as the fever may not be treated because it is not diagnosed.”.

The doctor may suspect and conduct a simple PCR test to diagnose the disease. It can be well contained by antibiotic doxycycline. The disease can turn fatal if it enters the brain. The expert said “it does not spread from human to human, only by contamination. People must not consume loosely available food items from Kirana stores, only packaged and properly sealed food. Rat-infested loosely available groceries must be avoided.”

Leptospirosis is endemic to India due to a tropical climate that complements the transmission of infection. Scientists believe that the first disease outbreak in the 1920s came from the Andaman Islands. It is one of the most widespread yet neglected zoonoses, with most reports from South America, the Caribbean, and South Asia. In India, it is endemic to coastal states like Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Despite causing significant mortality in India, the disease remained highly under-reported, majorly because of its endemic nature, lack of diagnostic modules, and lack of awareness among the treating clinicians.