Pune: Doctors in the city are now worried about leptospirosis cases after the surge in chikungunya and dengue infections. In June, the PMC's health department had said the city registered six leptospirosis cases in 2019, 11 in 2020 and seven each in the last three years. But 2024 is turning out to be an exception.
At Sassoon hospital alone, 275 confirmed leptospirosis cases were reported between June and Sept with Aug registering the maximum, 122. People can get leptospirosis by touching water or soil contaminated with urine or body fluids from infected animals, or by eating food or drinking water contaminated by urine. The infection is caused by Leptospira bacterium, which can be found in contaminated water or soil.
Flooding and contaminated water are the sources of transmission. However, exposure to open wounds causes penetration of the bacteria into the body. The symptoms of the infections include fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
In more severe cases, it can lead to kidney or liver damage, meningitis, and troubled breathing. Earlier this year, the PMC's health department had instructed the 21 civic dispensaries to prescribe preventive medications like doxycycline for leptospirosis to anyone who had waded through floodwaters and complained of fever. Dr Yallapa Jadhav, medical superintendent, Sassoon General Hospital, said, "In addition to the 275 cases between June and Sept, we have had over 1,400 suspected leptospirosis cases at our OPD and IPD.
Durin.