In a statement released this Tuesday, the Porto Alegre Health Department reported that, so far, the recommendation is that treatment for leptospirosis be carried out only in the presence of compatible signs and symptoms. Furthermore, the statement states that there is no evidence for the indiscriminate use of medicine, at risk of shortages for those who really need it.
After floods like those that have hit Rio Grande do Sul in recent days, the risk of transmitting diseases such as leptospirosis, tetanus and hepatitis A may increase. Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by leptospira bacteria, present in the urine of rodents and commonly acquired through contact with contaminated water or soil.
With the movement of water, these bacteria easily end up coming into contact with the population. Just by being exposed to water for a long time, the skin already loses its natural barrier and bacteria can penetrate the skin.
For anyone cleaning homes and businesses, the advice is to use appropriate protective equipment and avoid keeping your hands and feet wet for a long time. Leptospirosis presents varied clinical manifestations.
According to a technical note from the Ministry of Health, in the initial phase of the disease, patients may experience a fever equal to or greater than 38 degrees Celsius, pain in the lower back or calf and conjunctivitis. Warning signs of severity, which may appear from the second week onwards, involve symptoms such as coughing, bleeding or kidney failure.
A suspected case is considered to be someone who has a fever, headache, muscle pain and who has been exposed to floods, floods, septic tanks, sewage or who lives or works in an area at risk for leptospirosis.
Tags: SMS Porto Alegre asks treatment leptospirosis carried based symptoms
