By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Health officials in the heavily populated Maharashtra state, India, are reporting a 77 per cent increase in leptospirosis cases compared to last year.

Image/DasWortgewand

To date, 184 cases have been reported, compared to 104 in 2020.

In the second week of June, following heavy rainfall, BMC issued an advisory asking people to be cautious while walking through contaminated water. Citizens have been requested to take prophylactic treatment for leptospirosis within 72 hours of getting exposed to rain. “All private practitioners are hereby requested to start the doxycycline course for all fever patients during the monsoon season. Early treatment with doxycycline prevents organ involvement and other complications, thereby, preventing deaths due to leptospirosis,” said officials.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease. People (and animals) can get infected when they are exposed to the urine of infected animals. They can also get infected from water, soil, or food contaminated with infected animal urine. Leptospirosis bacteria can enter the body through skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth).

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Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), red eyes, and skin rash. Without treatment, leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death.