Gert van der Hoek
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Increasing trends of leptospirosis in Northern India
Leptospirosis is often not suspected by physicians in patients with acute febrile illnesses reported from north India. Researchers from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh retrospectively reviewed the records of Leptospirosis cases diagnosed at the institute between 2004-2008. In all, 232 cases of Leptospirosis were detected in the five years of study period (9 in 2004, 17 in 2005, 25 in 2006, 74 in 2007, and 107 in 2008). There was a sustained rise of Leptospirosis cases from 0.5% to 11.7%.
Cases were more common in the months of July-October for most of the years. The patients resided in different states of north India, however majority of patients were from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The authors noted that major epidemiological risk factors in these patients included wet environmental living conditions, lack of protective footwear, infestation of dwelling with rats, working in farm lands, contact with animals, especially cattle, bathing in public places, history of unprotected contact with dirty stagnant water, alcohol addiction, and smoking. Most of the patients by occupation were farmers (28, 32.6%), followed by housewives (19, 22.1%), students (11, 12.8%), laborers (10, 11.6%), indoor non-manual workers (10, 11.6%), para-military personal (2, 2.3%), sweeper (1, 1.2%), carpenter (1, 1.2%).
Leptospirosis can lead to serious complications that can affect most organ systems, including liver, kidneys, lungs and the central nervous system. The most common complication found in these patients was renal failure. Also observed were respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, neuroleptospirosis, ascitis and pleural effusion. Using the Microscopic agglutination test the researchers could demonstrate high antibody titres to Pomona, Ballum, Gryppotyphosa, and Autumnalis serovars.
According to the researchers, the stupendous rise in the number cases seen in this study should not come as a surprise. Previous reports from Chandigarh, Ludhiana, New Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh have also pointed to the fact that leptospirosis is present all over India.
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Increasing trends of leptospirosis in Northern India
Leptospirosis is often not suspected by physicians in patients with acute febrile illnesses reported from north India. Researchers from Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh retrospectively reviewed the records of Leptospirosis cases diagnosed at the institute between 2004-2008. In all, 232 cases of Leptospirosis were detected in the five years of study period (9 in 2004, 17 in 2005, 25 in 2006, 74 in 2007, and 107 in 2008). There was a sustained rise of Leptospirosis cases from 0.5% to 11.7%.
Cases were more common in the months of July-October for most of the years. The patients resided in different states of north India, however majority of patients were from Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
The authors noted that major epidemiological risk factors in these patients included wet environmental living conditions, lack of protective footwear, infestation of dwelling with rats, working in farm lands, contact with animals, especially cattle, bathing in public places, history of unprotected contact with dirty stagnant water, alcohol addiction, and smoking. Most of the patients by occupation were farmers (28, 32.6%), followed by housewives (19, 22.1%), students (11, 12.8%), laborers (10, 11.6%), indoor non-manual workers (10, 11.6%), para-military personal (2, 2.3%), sweeper (1, 1.2%), carpenter (1, 1.2%).
Leptospirosis can lead to serious complications that can affect most organ systems, including liver, kidneys, lungs and the central nervous system. The most common complication found in these patients was renal failure. Also observed were respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, neuroleptospirosis, ascitis and pleural effusion. Using the Microscopic agglutination test the researchers could demonstrate high antibody titres to Pomona, Ballum, Gryppotyphosa, and Autumnalis serovars.
According to the researchers, the stupendous rise in the number cases seen in this study should not come as a surprise. Previous reports from Chandigarh, Ludhiana, New Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh have also pointed to the fact that leptospirosis is present all over India.
Read more
