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Leptospirosis:A Disease of Public Health Importance


Affiliations
1 Department of Foods and Nutrition, Ethelind School of Home Science, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, ALLAHABAD (U.P.), India
2 Department of Foods and Nutrition, Ethelind School of Home Science, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, ALLAHABAD (U.P.), India
     

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Leptospirosis has been recognized as an important emerging global public health problem because of its epidemic proportions and increasing incidence in both developing and developed countries. The disease is endemic in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andaman, Karnataka, Maharashtra. It has also been reported from Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. It is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic bacteria called leptospires which has over 20 serogroups and more than 200 serovars. Man is infected either directly through contact with an infected animal or indirectly by water or soil contaminated with the urine of an infected animal. Human-to-human transmission occurs only very rarely. Leptospirosis can manifest in many ways. Clinical diagnosis is difficult because of the varied and non-specific presentation. In this situation, ELISA tests is particularly useful in making early diagnosis. Other serological tests available are indirect flouroscent antibody test (IFAT), indirect hemagglutination tests (IHAT), latex agglutination tests (LAT), micro capsule agglutination tests (MicAT), counter immuneelectrophoresis (CIE) and CFT etc. Antibiotic treatment is effective within 7 to 10 days of infection and it should be given immediately on diagnosis or suspicion. In severe cases, admission to a hospital is necessary. Identification of the potential risk factors would help understand the transmission dynamics of the disease and formulate public health interventions.

Keywords

Leptospirosis, Outbreak, Clinical Diagnosis, Risk Factors.
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  • Leptospirosis:A Disease of Public Health Importance

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Authors

Vandana Gupta
Department of Foods and Nutrition, Ethelind School of Home Science, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, ALLAHABAD (U.P.), India
Neeru Bala
Department of Foods and Nutrition, Ethelind School of Home Science, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, ALLAHABAD (U.P.), India

Abstract


Leptospirosis has been recognized as an important emerging global public health problem because of its epidemic proportions and increasing incidence in both developing and developed countries. The disease is endemic in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andaman, Karnataka, Maharashtra. It has also been reported from Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. It is an infectious disease caused by pathogenic bacteria called leptospires which has over 20 serogroups and more than 200 serovars. Man is infected either directly through contact with an infected animal or indirectly by water or soil contaminated with the urine of an infected animal. Human-to-human transmission occurs only very rarely. Leptospirosis can manifest in many ways. Clinical diagnosis is difficult because of the varied and non-specific presentation. In this situation, ELISA tests is particularly useful in making early diagnosis. Other serological tests available are indirect flouroscent antibody test (IFAT), indirect hemagglutination tests (IHAT), latex agglutination tests (LAT), micro capsule agglutination tests (MicAT), counter immuneelectrophoresis (CIE) and CFT etc. Antibiotic treatment is effective within 7 to 10 days of infection and it should be given immediately on diagnosis or suspicion. In severe cases, admission to a hospital is necessary. Identification of the potential risk factors would help understand the transmission dynamics of the disease and formulate public health interventions.

Keywords


Leptospirosis, Outbreak, Clinical Diagnosis, Risk Factors.

References