What is Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by a particular type of bacteria called a spirochete. Leptospirosis can be transmitted by many animals such as rats, skunks, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and other vermin. It is transmitted though contact with infected soil or water.

The soil or water is contaminated with the waste products of an infected animal. People contract the disease by either ingesting contaminated food or water or by broken skin and mucous membrane (eyes, nose, sinuses, mouth) contact with the contaminated water or soil

What are symptoms of leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis symptoms begin from two to 25 days after initial direct exposure to the urine or tissue of an infected animal. This can even occur via contaminated soil or water. Veterinarians, pet shop owners, sewage workers, and farm employees are at particularly high risk. People participating in outdoor sporting activities like canoeing, rafting, hiking, and camping can also come into contact with contaminated water or soil.

The illness typically progresses through two phases:

1) The first phase of nonspecific flulike symptoms includes headaches, muscle aches, eye
    pain with bright lights, followed by chills and fever. Watering and redness of the eyes
    occurs and symptoms seem to improve by the fifth to ninth day.

2) The second phase begins after a few days of feeling well. The initial symptoms recur
   with fever and aching with stiffness of the neck. Some patients develop serious
   inflammation of the nerves to the eyes, brain, spinal column (meningitis), or other nerves.
   Right upper area abdominal pain may occur. Less common symptoms relate to disease
   of the liver, lungs, kidneys, and heart.

Leptospirosis associated with liver and kidney disease is called Weil's syndrome and is characterized by yellowing of the eyes (jaundice). Patients with Weil's syndrome can also develop kidney disease and have more serious involvement of the organs affected

How is leptospirosis treated?
The treatment of leptospirosis involves high doses of antibiotics. Antibiotic treatment (doxycycline, penicillin) is most effective when initiated early in the course of the illness. Severely ill patients may need hospitalization for IV fluid and antibiotic treatment. Severe liver and kidney manifestations of the infection may require intensive medical care and sometimes dialysis treatment. However, even in severe cases, liver and kidney function often does return after recovery from the illness.

Mortality rates for severe illness with leptospirosis can range from 5%-40%, depending on the severity of organ dysfunction and the patient's general health prior to infection. Most previously healthy patients will make a full recovery.