Leptospirosis-The Hindu-12-11-2022

GS-3
Health and environment
Context: Pregnant woman from Pollachi dies of leptospirosis.
Brief about Leptospirosis
It is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals.
It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.
In humans, it can cause a wide range of symptoms, some of which may be mistaken for other diseases.
Some infected persons, however, may have no symptoms at all.
Without treatment, Leptospirosis can lead to kidney damage, meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain and spinal cord), liver failure, respiratory distress, and even death.
A single dose of doxycycline 200 mg tablet is effective as a preventive medicine against leptospirosis, a bacterial infection, if given to the flood-affected within a week of the natural calamity.