How to avoid leptospirosis this rainy season

The rainy season ushered in the sweater weather but also welcomed many diseases. Most notable among them is leptospirosis which one commonly gets from floods and puddles of rain.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease that people get from the urine of infected animals like rats. Leptospira is the bacteria that bring about leptospirosis. Usually, it enters the body through open wounds and skin abrasions. The most common symptoms are jaundice, fever, headache, vomiting, and defecation.

According to the Department of Health, from January to June of 2023 a total of 1,699 leptospirosis cases have been recorded. 174 people have died because of it.

Dr. Romina A Danguilan, deputy executive director for medical services adult nephrologist, shared, “Common na nakikita namin dito sa NKTI (National Kidney and Transplant Institute) are patients na kailangan na mag dialysis. So they go into acute kidney failure. Pansamatalang naapektuhan yung kanilang kidney. The same thing also po sa liver. Kapag nanilaw na yung pasyente ibig sabihin nagkaka complications na sa atay. Ngayon ang malubha ay ang ating baga pag sobrang dumugo ang ating baga, nawawalan ng oxygen ang katawan.”

“Maganda dito sa sakit na ito ay kahit yung organs temporarily na nagshushut down hindi nagwowork after about one week nagrerecover din yung kidney so ang kailangan lang ay pansamatalang dialysis. Tatanggalin natin yung mga lason or excess fluid na nag accumulate sa katawan nya.”

Dr. Romina reminded, “Kailangan po preventive tayo kapag nagcocommute tayo, umuulan magdala na tayo ng sapat na damit. Botas dapat magsuot. Wear your raincoat and bring your umbrella. Yung mga nagtratrabaho po sa wet markets, trabaho po nila maglinis ng mgaa kanal dapat wear the proper protective equipment basta po may risk factors kayo then you have to take the medicine already.”

Leptospirosis can also come from contaminated food. When your food has been contaminated with rat urine, there is a high possibility that you will get infected. Dr. Romina recommends, “Maybe a fresh vegetable kayong niluluto, yung tubig na gagamitin niyo para hugasan ang ating gulay kailangan malinis talaga. Iboil nyo po muna yung tubig ninyo. You have to boil it for a certain time tapos let it cool down kapag cool down na po then that's when you use it.”

Check out the video below.

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