Ministry of Health warns of risks of leptospirosis after rains in Rio Grande do Sul

This Saturday (11), the Ministry of Health released a technical note on the use of prophylaxis without the need for laboratory confirmation in cases of leptospirosis disease, cases have increased due to precarious infrastructure conditions and public calamity in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, since the end of April. The disease is directly related to floods and the infestation of infected rodents. In one of the excerpts of the note, the Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat (SVSA) said: “In climate disaster scenarios, such as floods, the spread and persistence of bacteria in the environment can facilitate the occurrence of disease outbreaks.”

And it also alerted health professionals and the population to take a closer look at the signs and symptoms of the disease and a differential diagnosis for respiratory diseases, acute diarrhea, urinary tract infections, sepsis and hepatitis A.

Symptoms

The SUS will try to treat the disease in the initial phase, the recommendation is that patients who have fever and pain, mainly in the lower back and calf region, who have had contact with water or mud from floods within a period of up to 30 days, receive treatment as soon as possible. treatment with chemoprophylaxis. He highlighted where to seek medical assistance. “It is important to consider that cases can be treated in municipalities that did not suffer from the rains, as many families took shelter in the homes of family or friends in neighboring municipalities. Therefore, all public agents must be sensitive and seek information about the origin of the patient’s place of residence.”

^{Citizens in direct contact with the water (Photo: Reproduction/Infomoney/Reuters/Diego Vara)}

Illness

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease contracted by direct or indirect exposure to urine from animals infected with Leptospira bacteria, exclusively by rats.

The bacteria starts with lesions on the skin, mucous membranes, and has long contact with contaminated water, soil or food.

The biggest symptoms are high fever, headache, bleeding, muscle pain, chills, red eyes and vomiting. If left untreated, it can lead to death.

The time interval between transmission and the onset of symptoms takes an average of 30 days, but typically occurs between 7 and 14 days after exposure.

High disease occurs in several areas of the country and the risk of fatality can reach 40% in more serious cases.

Treatment

Chemoprophylaxis is the use of substances to prevent the development of the disease.

According to the technical note from the Ministry of Health, the treatment is not recommended as a public health prevention measure. “In cases of mass population exposure, during climate disasters with floods”.

The use of chemoprophylaxis will only be possible for people working in rescue operations in RS, with the note that it can be considered as they are constantly exposed and at great risk of infection. Only “in this case, the method can be adopted according to the decision and flows defined in the management at the local level, depending on the availability of medicines”.

Featured Photo: City of Rio Grande do Sul (Reproduction/agênciabrasil/Amanda Perobelli)