OSSSC Nursing Disease Guide

Communicable · Medium priority

Leptospirosis

Core disease facts with the linked government programme, prevention and treatment or cure reality.

TypeBacterial disease — caused by pathogenic Leptospira bacteria.

Image-based identification

Red conjunctiva caused by conjunctival suffusion in leptospirosis
What to identifyConjunctival suffusion is red conjunctiva without purulent discharge—a characteristic clue in leptospirosis.Image credit: Daniel Ostermayer — CC BY 4.0

Government programmes, schemes and services

  • Programme: Programme for Prevention and Control of Leptospirosis: Strengthens laboratories, early diagnosis, standard case management, prevention, training and surveillance in participating states, including Odisha.
  • Surveillance: Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme–IHIP: Monitors fever clusters and supports rapid investigation, particularly after floods or heavy rain when leptospirosis risk rises.

Prevention

  • Prevent: Avoid contaminated floodwater, boots/gloves, cover wounds, rodent control, occupational protection

Treatment and cure reality

  • Treat: Curable, especially when antibiotics such as doxycycline, penicillin or ceftriaxone are started early according to severity/protocol.

Must remember

  • Reservoir/exposure: Urine of infected animals, especially rodents; enters through abraded skin or mucosa after contact with contaminated floodwater, mud, or soil.
  • Clues: Acute fever, severe calf-muscle tenderness, headache, and conjunctival suffusion.
  • Severe disease: Jaundice, renal failure, haemorrhage, meningitis, or pulmonary involvement.
  • Prevention: Boots/gloves, covering wounds, rodent control, drainage, and avoiding contaminated floodwater.
  • Odisha hook: Odisha was added to the national Programme for Prevention and Control of Leptospirosis expansion in 2022–23; surveillance is linked with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme–Integrated Health Information Platform.