Dr.PrabhuMD

I would like to know if this could be added as an article. Will Some one guide me please.--Dr.PrabhuMD (talk) 17:08, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

Main Topic: Rat Fever. Sub. Topic: Prevent Rat Fever Outbreak –Post Monsoon conditions ideal for the disease spread by Rodents. Key: Prevention Essential by Pest Control Measures.

                                                      RAT FEVER

Causes

Rat fever ( WHO ICD Code # A27.0), a bacterial disease is caused by a pathogenic spirochete bacteria. Although more than 100 serotypes of the bacteria have been identified, only Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae and Leptospira canicola are known to cause disease in humans. Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae causes Weil's disease and Leptospira canicola causes aseptic meningitis.

Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae is found in the urine of infected rats. Other animals known to harbour the organism are cattle, pigs and dogs. The bacteria infect humans through moist or abraded skin, mucous membranes and conjunctiva. Indirect infection can take place from contaminated water or soil. Those at risk are sewer and abattoir workers, fish cleaners, farmers and those employed on canals, docks and river drainage. Veterinarians and laboratory workers are also at risk.This usually affects the poor in city slums and the incidence is high after rains as flooding and water logging helps spread the bacteria in the environment.

Symptoms

The average incubation period of the bacteria is 10 days. Symptoms are not seen in most cases or a mild fever will be experienced. In severe cases, there is abrupt onset of fever, headache and joint pains. Also present are conjunctival suffusion, vomiting and loss of appetite.

After a week, antibodies appear in blood and temperature falls.

A secondary rise of temperature is seen with signs of meningitis such as neck stiffness and Kernig's sign (stiffness of hamstrings causing an inability to straighten the legs when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees). In very severe cases of Weil's disease, there is fever, jaundice, liver and kidney failure. Myocarditis (inflammation of heart muscles) and meningitis may also occur. In these cases, other clinical features are vomiting of blood, blood in stools, black stools, sub-conjunctival bleeding and petechiae (bleeding in the skin or mucous membrane). In severe cases, the mortality rate is up to 20 percent.

In Leptospira canicola infections, there is fever, headache and neck stiffness with conjunctival infection. There is an increase in the white blood corpuscle count.

When the liver is affected, the liver function tests give abnormal results.

When the kidney is affected, urine contains protein and red blood cells. Blood Urea rises in renal failure.

A lumbar puncture is done to examine cerebrospinal fluid in suspected meningitis cases.

The diagnosis can be confirmed by blood culture in the first week and urine culture in the second and third week. A rising level of antibodies is seen from the second week.

Treatment

Administering 600 mg of benzylpenicillin every six hours for seven days is the treatment option. The disease can also be effectively treated with Cap. Doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for adults and Cap. Amoxicillin or Cap Ampicillin 30-45mg /Kg/day for children < 6 years. Organ specific care/treatment must be taken up when complications such as acute liver damage, acute renal failure, arrhythmia (disturbance in heart rhythm) and cardiac failure. . Prophalactically, Cap Doxyciline 200 mg once a week can be distributed among exposed workers in epidemic areas. The response is good if treatment starts early and in adequate doses.

Giving adequate fluids, antipyretics, antibiotics and bed rest is recommended.

Prevention by Civic Authorities Essential

Rat fever can easily become an epidemic in post monsoon conditions – ideal for spread of the disease by rodents.

City corporations, Municipality, Health and Sanitation Department, should take up Pest Control Measures/Rodent control well in advance to prevent an “Outbreak” of the disease. --Dr.PrabhuMD (talk) 16:09, 3 December 2008 (UTC)

Re: userpage

Dear Dr. Prabhu,

your userpage looks ok! Don't spend too much time on it, Wikipedia is about articles and not about our userpages. It is something that grows and changes with time. You might want to add Wikipedia:Babelboxes.

With regards to the article on leptospirosis, I would not start a new article but add content to the existing article leptospirosis.

Let me know if you have further questions or concerns!

cheers, Steven F