Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis can cause a wide range of symptoms in humans, including:

• Fever
• Headache
• Chills
• Body or muscle aches
• Vomiting or nausea
• Yellowed skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Red eyes
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Rash

Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases. Some people have no symptoms. See your healthcare provider right away if you feel you may have leptospirosis.

It generally takes 2-30 days to get sick after having contact with the bacteria that cause leptospirosis. The disease may occur in two phases:

• In the first phase, people may have fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea. The person may feel better for a while but become ill again.

• Some people may suffer a more severe second phase with kidney or liver failure, or inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

The illness can last from a few days to several weeks. Without treatment, symptoms may last several months.

Lower your risk of getting leptospirosis:

• Don't swim or wade in water that might be contaminated with animal urine, especially after hurricanes, floods, or heavy rainfall.
• Avoid contact with animals that may be infected (i.e., dogs, cats, cows, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, sealions)
• Cover your cuts or scratches with waterproof bandages.
• Wear waterproof protective clothing, shoes or boots near floodwater or other water or soil that may be contaminated with animal urine.

About Leptospirosis | Leptospirosis | CDC

Leptospirosis in Animals | Leptospirosis | CDC