Leptospirosis: A disease with global prevalence

Abstract

Leptospirosis, a zoonotic disease is prevalent throughout the globe. This condition is enormously increasing and is caused by a spirochete Leptospira. Contaminated fresh water is the major source of the disease. The clinical presentation of Leptospirosis is very vast and ranges from self limited non fatal infection to highly mortal respiratory and renal failure. The Weil’s disease associated with severe leptospirosis which is characterizes by jaundice, renal failure and hemorrhage. The condition is so much alarming that clinical suspicion is sufficient for empirical therapy. The gold standard is microscopic agglutination test though serological studies are widely conducted for the diagnostic purpose. The antibiotics use for the treatment of Leptospirosis includes oral doxycycline, azithromycin and penicillins. Among the parenteral therapy Intravenous penicillin G and third generation cephalosporins are used. We reviewed the clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of leptospirosis in this study.