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The treatment for leptospirosis, in most cases, can be done at home with the use of antibiotics, such as Amoxicillin, Doxycycline or Ampicillin, for example, for 5 to 7 days, according to the guidance of the general practitioner or the infectologist, in case of the adult, or of the pediatrician, in the case of children.
In addition, it is also recommended to rest and hydrate throughout the day. The doctor may also prescribe other remedies to relieve symptoms, such as painkillers and antipyretics, as this disease can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, headache or body pain.
Leptospirosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira, which is transmitted through contact with urine and animal excrement, such as contaminated rats, cats and dogs, with people at risk of flooding, working in pits or coming into contact with wet soil or garbage being at greater risk. Understand how leptospirosis is transmitted and how to identify the infection.
Treatment with medicines
The main drugs used to treat leptospirosis include:
- Antibiotics, such as Doxycycline, Amoxicillin, Penicillin or Ampicillin, for example, for 5 to 7 days, or according to the doctor's recommendation. It is important that treatment is started as soon as the first signs and symptoms of the disease appear, because the treatment is more effective, fighting infection more easily and preventing complications;
- Painkillers and antipyretics, such as Paracetamol or Dipyrone. Medications that contain ASA in their composition should be avoided, as they can increase the risk of bleeding, and anti-inflammatory drugs should also be avoided because they increase the chances of digestive bleeding;
- Antiemetics, to relieve nausea, such as Metoclopramide or Bromopride, for example.
In addition, it is very important to perform hydration with liquids, such as water, coconut water and teas throughout the day for all carriers of the disease. Oral rehydration serum can be useful in many cases, especially for people with signs of dehydration. Check out the following video on how to prepare homemade serum:
Vein hydration is only indicated in cases of people who are unable to hydrate orally, or in more severe cases, such as those with severe dehydration, bleeding or kidney complications, for example.
Signs of improvement and worsening
Signs of improvement in leptospirosis appear about 2 to 4 days after the start of treatment and include a decrease and disappearance of fever, a reduction in muscle pain and a decrease in nausea and vomiting.
When the treatment is not carried out correctly or is not started, signs of worsening may appear, such as impaired organ function, such as kidneys, lungs, liver or heart and, therefore, may include changes in the amount of urine, difficulty breathing, bleeding, palpitations, severe pain in the chest, yellowed skin and eyes, swelling in the body or seizures, for example.
When it is necessary to intern
The doctor may indicate the need to stay hospitalized whenever warning signs and symptoms appear, such as:
- Shortness of breathe;
- Urinary changes, such as decreased amount of urine;
- Bleeding, such as gums, nose, cough, feces or urine;
- Frequent vomiting;
- Pressure drop or arrhythmias;
- Yellow skin and eyes;
- Drowsiness or fainting.
These signs and symptoms suggest the possibility of complications that compromise the life of the affected person, being, therefore, important that the person remains in the hospital to be monitored. Some of the main complications of leptospirosis include hemorrhage, meningitis and changes in the functioning of organs such as kidneys, liver, lungs and heart.