Abstract
Leptospirosis is an infectious illness that usually develops 1 to 2 weeks after indirect or direct exposure to the urine of infected animals. Infection occurs through open cuts, absorption through intact mucous membranes, and drinking contaminated water. The typical presentation is a flulike syndrome of sudden onset that tends to resolve within 2 weeks. A mild immunologic phase usually presents as an aseptic meningitis. A more severe immunologic phase (Well's syndrome) can result in jaundice, renal failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and death. Laboratory tests take too long to replace clinical diagnosis, which is imperative so that antibiotic therapy can begin before the fourth day of illness. Although leptospirosis is more common in tropical climates, detection in the continental United States is increasing. Early, accurate detection and treatment in the primary care setting are vital for limiting life-threatening complications.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | The Nurse practitioner |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| State | Published - 1998 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Diagnosis and treatment of leptospirosis in the primary care setting. / Noone, Joanne.
In: The Nurse practitioner, Vol. 23, No. 5, 1998.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnosis and treatment of leptospirosis in the primary care setting.
AU - Noone, Joanne
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Leptospirosis is an infectious illness that usually develops 1 to 2 weeks after indirect or direct exposure to the urine of infected animals. Infection occurs through open cuts, absorption through intact mucous membranes, and drinking contaminated water. The typical presentation is a flulike syndrome of sudden onset that tends to resolve within 2 weeks. A mild immunologic phase usually presents as an aseptic meningitis. A more severe immunologic phase (Well's syndrome) can result in jaundice, renal failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and death. Laboratory tests take too long to replace clinical diagnosis, which is imperative so that antibiotic therapy can begin before the fourth day of illness. Although leptospirosis is more common in tropical climates, detection in the continental United States is increasing. Early, accurate detection and treatment in the primary care setting are vital for limiting life-threatening complications.
AB - Leptospirosis is an infectious illness that usually develops 1 to 2 weeks after indirect or direct exposure to the urine of infected animals. Infection occurs through open cuts, absorption through intact mucous membranes, and drinking contaminated water. The typical presentation is a flulike syndrome of sudden onset that tends to resolve within 2 weeks. A mild immunologic phase usually presents as an aseptic meningitis. A more severe immunologic phase (Well's syndrome) can result in jaundice, renal failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and death. Laboratory tests take too long to replace clinical diagnosis, which is imperative so that antibiotic therapy can begin before the fourth day of illness. Although leptospirosis is more common in tropical climates, detection in the continental United States is increasing. Early, accurate detection and treatment in the primary care setting are vital for limiting life-threatening complications.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0032061109&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9614681
AN - SCOPUS:0032061109
VL - 23
JO - Nurse Practitioner
JF - Nurse Practitioner
SN - 0361-1817
IS - 5
ER -