Introduction
This article forms part of our travel medicine series for 2010, providing a summary of
prevention strategies and vaccination for infections that may be acquired by travellers.
The series aims to provide practical strategies to assist general practitioners in giving
travel advice, as a synthesis of multiple information sources which must otherwise be
consulted.
Background
Leptospirosis is one of the many diseases responsible for undifferentiated febrile
illness, especially in the tropical regions or in the returned traveller. It is a disease of
global importance, and knowledge in the disease is continually developing.
Objective
The aim of this article is to provide clinicians with a concise review of the epidemiology,
pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis, management and prevention of
leptospirosis.
Discussion
Leptospirosis should be included in the broad differential diagnosis of febrile illness.
The clinical manifestations of the disease vary from mild, nonspecific illness through
to severe illness resulting in acute renal failure, hepatic failure and pulmonary
haemorrhage. Diagnosis is dependant on accurate prediction of the time of infection:
culture, polymerase chain reaction and serology may be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Management is centred on prompt antibiotic therapy using doxycycline or intravenous
penicillin G or intravenous ceftriaxone/cefotaxime. Prevention of leptospirosis revolves
around the ‘cover-wash-clean up’ strategy.
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