This is a bacterial infection. The bacteria that cause leptospirosis are transmitted through animal particularly among rodents. Humans become infected by the bacteria infecting through contact with contaminated food or water, or by way of a cut or scratches in the skin. The time for a person to become sick after exposure to the bacteria is 2-4 days.
The most cases of leptospirosis don’t have symptoms or have only mild symptoms. The symptoms in severe cases include muscle pain, fever and chills, skin rash (if skin is infected), vomiting/diarrhea (if GI is infected). As it progresses, there are severe abdominal pain and jaundice.
Treatments: Treatments should start early. If there are fever and muscle pain with either skin rash or abdominal symptoms, please go to see your doctor for diagnosis and treatments.