How to Diagnose Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis, also known as Weil's disease, is an infection caused by any bacteria of the Leptospira genus. It is primarily contracted from the urine of infected animals and is not known to spread from person to person. Leptospirosis is found worldwide, is but is primarily a hazard for anyone who works with animals or spends a lot of time in the wild.

Instructions

• 1

  Realize that some people do not show signs of infection. However, those that are affected usually become ill and require hospitalization. The initial symptoms of leptospirosis appear 2 days to 4 weeks after exposure and include chills, high fever, severe headache, muscle aches and vomiting. Jaundice with red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea and a rash can be present.

• 2

  Expect the second phase of leptospirosis to occur if left untreated. Advanced symptoms include breathing difficulty, kidney damage, liver failure and meningitis. These can be fatal in rare cases. Leptospirosis lasts for 3 days to 3 weeks or more with treatment. Otherwise it might take several months to recover.

• 3

  Perform routine laboratory tests for indications of leptospirosis. The white blood cell count is usually less than 10,000. The urinalysis is usually abnormal.

• 4

  Review the results of a blood work-up. An above-normal creatine kinase will be found in 50 percent of patients and a slight to moderate increase in liver enzymes is found 40 to 50 percent of the time.

• 5

  Confirm the diagnosis by testing the blood for Leptospira antibodies.