Certain bacteria cause the infection. It is spread from the urine of infected animals. The urine gets into water, soil, and plants. The bacteria gets into the body from direct contact. This means from:

Cuts in the skin
The mouth, nose, and eyes
Drinking contaminated water

Risk Factors

Leptospirosis is found all over the world. It is most common in tropical places.

The risk is higher for those who have contact with:

Infected animals
Contaminated soil or water, such as with:
- Farming
- Sewer work
- Working in the military
- Mining
- Swimming or wading
- Boating, canoeing, or kayaking
- Camping

Symptoms

Some people do not have symptoms. Those who do may have:

Fever
Muscle aches
Belly pain
Diarrhea
Red eyes
Rash
Dry cough
Yellowing of the skin and eyes— jaundice

Rarely, it can lead to problems with the lungs and kidneys.

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms, health, and travel history. A physical exam may be done. Blood and urine tests may be done to check for infection or other problems.

Other tests may be done to check for organ damage.

Treatment

The infection is treated with antibiotics.

In rare but serious cases, treatment may be needed to support organ function.

Prevention

The risk of infection can be lowered by:

Avoiding soil, plants, or water where animals pass urine
Wearing protective gloves and waterproof boots
Using boiled or bottled water

RESOURCES:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov

World Health Organization
http://www.who.int

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Alberta Health Services
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/

Public Health Agency of Canada
https://www.canada.ca

References:

Leptospirosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/leptospirosis. Accessed January 29, 2021.

Leptospirosis. EBSCO DynaMed . Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/results?q=Leptospirosis&lang=en. Accessed January 29, 2021.

Leptospirosis (Weil's disease). New York State Department of Health website. Available at: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/leptospirosis/fact_sheet.htm. Accessed January 29, 2021.

Mousavi S, Nasera M, et al. Current advances in urban leptospirosis diagnosis. Reviews in Medical Microbiology. 2017;28 (3):119-123.

Last reviewed September 2020 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 1/29/2021

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