Colleen L Lau1, Nicola Townell2, Eloise Stephenson3, Debra van den Berg4, Scott B Craig5. 1. MBBS, MPH@TM, PhD, FRACGP, NHMRC Fellow, Department of Global Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT; Travel Medicine Consultant, Travel Medicine Alliance Clinics Australia. colleen.lau@anu.edu.au. 2. MBChB, BSc, FRCPA, FRACP, Infectious Disease Physician, Infectious Disease Department, Mater Hospital Brisbane, Mater Health, South Brisbane, Qld. 3. MSc, BSc, PhD candidate and sessional academic, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Qld. 4. MPH, RN, Public Health Officer, Communicable Disease Surveillance, North Coast Public Health Unit, Lismore, NSW. 5. PhD, MSc, BSc(Hon), BSSc, Senior Supervising Scientist, WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Leptospirosis, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, Qld.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide. Infection occurs through contact with infected animals, or soil or water that has been contaminated by the urine of infected animals. Risk factors include occupational and recreational exposures, contact with floodwaters, and travel to areas with a high risk of leptospirosis, particularly tropical, developing countries. With climate change, flood-related outbreaks are becoming more common. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to improve awareness of leptospirosis, and provide an update for general practitioners on its epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, laboratory diagnosis, management and prevention. DISCUSSION: Leptospirosis is sometimes misdiagnosed because clinical presentation can be non-specific and overlap with many other causes of acute febrile illnesses. In patients with risk factors for leptospirosis, a high index of clinical suspicion is important to ensure early diagnosis and treatment. Delays in treatment could increase the risk of severe complications, including pulmonary haemorrhage, acute renal failure and acute liver failure.
BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide. Infection occurs through contact with infected animals, or soil or water that has been contaminated by the urine of infected animals. Risk factors include occupational and recreational exposures, contact with floodwaters, and travel to areas with a high risk of leptospirosis, particularly tropical, developing countries. With climate change, flood-related outbreaks are becoming more common. OBJECTIVE: This article aims to improve awareness of leptospirosis, and provide an update for general practitioners on its epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, laboratory diagnosis, management and prevention. DISCUSSION: Leptospirosis is sometimes misdiagnosed because clinical presentation can be non-specific and overlap with many other causes of acute febrile illnesses. In patients with risk factors for leptospirosis, a high index of clinical suspicion is important to ensure early diagnosis and treatment. Delays in treatment could increase the risk of severe complications, including pulmonary haemorrhage, acute renal failure and acute liver failure.