What are the Symptoms of Leptospirosis?
The incubation period of leptospirosis ranges from 2-26 days. This disease is seen in two phases-
Leptospiremic phase-
The first or septicemic or leptospiremic phase lasts for 4-9 days. Symptoms include-
- Sudden onset of headache on the forehead, around the temples and eyes
- Fever with chills, temperatures exceed 39 degrees centigrade

- Severe muscle aches (especially in the calf, abdomen and paraspinal region muscles)
- Redness of the eyes (characteristic)
- Abdominal pain
- Jaundice
- Hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Rash
Immune phase-
8-10 days after infection, the Leptospira bacteria can be detected in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid. In the second or immune phase the body begins to produce antibodies- substance (protein) produced by the body to fight the bacterial invasion. This phase is also known as Weil’s syndrome if there is liver and kidney involvement. The immune phase is characterized by-
- High fever with evidence of involvement of the brain.
- Meningitis- headache, fever, photophobia and nuchal rigidity
- This disease can also affect the nerves in the body such as the optic nerve (the nerve to the eye), the nerves to the face and ear- Optic neuritis, uveitis, iridocyclitis, chorioretinitis, and peripheral neuropathy
- Hemorrhagic pneumonia
- Jaundice
- Hepatic dysfunction
- Renal insufficiency
- Bleeding tendencies
- Multiple organ failure
- Myocarditis
- Hemorrhagic pulmonary infiltration
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Dr. Trupti Shirole. 2021. What are the Symptoms of Leptospirosis?. Medindia, viewed May 27, 2022, https://www.medindia.net/patients/patientinfo/what-are-the-symptoms-of-leptospirosis.htm.
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Dr.Jagdish Rajaram clinic, Viman Nagar
We here in Thailand are being told there is no reason to panice about any water borne deseases in the current floods. We have thousands of tons of uncollected rubbish floating in the water animal and human waste. What can we do to minimise the risk of contacting leptospirosis cholera malaria etc. Is there som medicine we can take to lesson the risks. many thanks Paul
Need proper diagnostic set ups and patients must check up promptly and early for leptospirosis; or else leads to multi organ disorder to multiple organ failure
Dr. Prabhu Nagarajan, India Date: 04.02.2009
Whenever patients are coming with fever it is better that the doctor ask them to go for three tests namely MALARIA,WIDAL and LEPTOSPIROSIS.By doing this we can prevent the spreding of disease
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