As Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was hospitalised after he was diagnosed as suffering from leptospirosis, a disease not many are familiar with, a doctor explains how this bacterial infection occurs, its dangers, and the precautions that must be taken.
Explaining
how leptospirosis spreads, Dr M Wali, Senior Consultant from the Department
of Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, said that this infectious disease
is caused by the bacteria Leptospira, and often spreads to humans through rats.
The infection can
occur when food, water, or soil contaminated by animal urine comes into contact
with the nose, mouth, eyes, or broken skin, he said.
Regarding the
symptoms of this disease, Dr Wali said that in the early stages of
leptospirosis, patients may experience flu-like symptoms.
However, in more
severe cases, it can lead to internal bleeding and organ damage. Early symptoms
include high fever, eye infections or redness, headaches, chills, muscle pain,
diarrhoea, and jaundice. In more critical situations, symptoms may include
coughing up blood (hemoptysis), chest pain, difficulty breathing, and blood in
the urine, all signs of internal bleeding.
Dr Wali further
revealed that globally, around 1 million cases of leptospirosis are reported
each year, and 50 per cent of these cases result in death.
To prevent
leptospirosis, the best approach is to avoid contaminated water, he said,
adding that food must be kept in places where rats cannot reach it, and always
covered properly.
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