I've got Weil's

[huldah]

I\'ve got Weil\'s

The following experience may interest forumites.

On the 24th of last month I got water in my eyes from the canal. On the 1st of this month I had a bad head. The next day I collapsed when in a local shop. (Similar to a faint). Having been told that there was a virus going around, I waited a few days and the problems went.

Last week things were not so good and I was beginning to suspect the worst. So, as a precaution, I took turmeric, which immediately improved things. (Turmeric has many interesting properties).

By Monday this week, it was becoming obvious that it may be Weil's, My heart was also affected. So I immediately consulted a doctor.

This doctor had no experience of this disease and had to rely on her computer. This told her that treatment had to be given in the first 5 days, then no treatment! (I suspect she was reading the wrong page). She arranged for a blood test. (To be taken on Friday). I can see no justification for the, often long, delay getting a blood sample taken. That night I tossed, turned and sweated. The following morning I looked like a pregnant man, with pains beginning near my liver and kidneys.

At that point I insisted on seeing a doctor with the necessary experience and received an immediate appointment. This young doctor was brilliant and by 9.30 I was at the local hospital having blood tests. By about midday the doctor phoned to say the first of the results were ready. Within the hour she rang to say the the microbiologist had recommended a antibiotic suitable for the local variety of Weils, and the prescription was ready.

So now it is fingers crossed

This disease has three stages. Stage one is the head problems. Stage two is silent. Stage three is the dangerous stage.

During my childhood, a number of council workers died of this disease.

Philip

 

[BrendanS]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

There was another forumite posted about having Weils quite recently. It can be pretty nasty if not treated. An ex girlfriend used to row, and their policy was if anyone went in the water, they had to go for tests.

 

[FullCircle]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

Thanks for posting that. I will keep it in the back of my mind should I experience anything similar.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

Good luck.

Thanks for the warning. Is it fresh water only?

 

[huldah]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

Yes, it was fresh - er rather muddy- water from the Kennet & Avon canal near Bath

Philip

 

[whisper]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

Get Well Soon!!

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

What led you to suspect by monday of this week that it could be weil's?

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

[ QUOTE ]
Good luck.

Thanks for the warning. Is it fresh water only?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, apparently the salt kills it.

We in my work knew this as one of the staff AKA sickbay AKA Spacey (self explanatory) rang in one Monday telling us he had contracted Weil's from canoeing at Chester but the sea side of the weir.

After much searching (it had become a hobby with this guy to stay one step ahead of his medical dictionary) we found that Weil's was not possible from salt water and there was no way on Earth Spacey could've caught it where he used to go canoeing.

Nasty disease though, he arrived Tuesday apparently fully cured, tha's 'andy init! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

[ QUOTE ]
leptospirosis <span class="small">also known as Weil's disease .... Encyclopædia Britannica Article</span>

also called pea picker's disease or swineherd's disease acute systemic illness of animals, occasionally communicable to humans, that is characterized by extensive inflammation of the blood vessels. It is caused by a spirochete, or spiral-shaped bacterium, of the genus Leptospira.

Leptospires infect most mammals, particularly rodents and certain domestic animals. These animals excrete live, fully virulent organisms in their urine and contaminate the environment. Outside the animal body, leptospires can live for several weeks in fresh water. Thus, infection takes place by direct contact with urine of infected animals or by indirect contact with contaminated food or water. Leptospires can readily penetrate mucous membranes but probably cannot gain entrance to the body through intact skin. A scratch or abrasion, as well as the nasal mucosa and eye, are excellent portals of entry; thus, the origin of many infections can be traced to wading, swimming, or other contact with water containing virulent leptospires. The incidence in humans depends upon the opportunity for exposure in swimming, the harvesting of rice, and contact with animals.

Usually after an incubation period of about a week, the first symptoms to arise in humans are the abrupt onset of fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Another characteristic symptom is congestion of the conjunctival blood vessels around the corneas of the eyes. After a latent period of five to seven days, during which the infected person may improve, fever returns and the infection may involve the brain. In a less-common, but more-severe, form of the illness known as Weil disease or icteric (associated with jaundice) leptospirosis, the infected person turns yellow as a result of the destruction of red blood cells and liver disease. The death rate is approximately 30 percent of the severely ill and jaundiced patients.

Diagnosis is established by identification of the causative organism in urine or blood and by blood cultures on special media. Antibiotic therapy is effective only if given within four days of the onset of the illness. Supportive care and the maintenance of fluid balance are needed because dehydration, cardiovascular collapse, and acute kidney failure can all occur.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[maxi]

Fresh water

Not necessarily water, if you are the sort of guy who might pick up pits and pieces around a boatyard, for instance, Weil's could be caught from a contiminated piece of timber etc. Anywhere that rats might go, then Weils is a danger.

 

[MASH]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

Hope you get well soon, but...

Perfect example of why you should go to a doctor when you are ill, not the spice drawer!

 

[ShipsWoofy]

Re: Fresh water

[ QUOTE ]
Not necessarily water, if you are the sort of guy who might pick up pits and pieces around a boatyard, for instance, Weil's could be caught from a contiminated piece of timber etc. Anywhere that rats might go, then Weils is a danger.

[/ QUOTE ]

really, I didn't know that, that is frightening, especially considering the amount of rats around this country, especially our cities.

 

[castaway]

Re: Fresh water

Yes good point... Ive got a rat living in the roof of my garage.. The cat is keeping an eye on him but has so far failed to nail 'im...this despite commendable diligence on his behalf.

Maybe I had better do something myself..

Nick

 

[Searush]

Re: Fresh water

Hope everthing pans out all right for you & thanks for reminding us all of the risks.

We had a rat raiding the kitchen recently. B*gger wouldn't go near any of the baited traditional traps & it was very difficult to keep all food locked up out of his reach.

In the end I spent £30 on a live squirrel cage trap (at the time we weren't sure if it was a squirrel or a rat). Best £30 quid I have ever spent & I was quite happy to see him off with a powerful air pistol the following morning.

Followed up with a major clean up & disinfect of the kitchen.

Incidentally, Chester weir is a long way up the river and is the extreme end of tidal effect. The water either side of the weir is generally fresh. I know, I have capsized in it from time to time. Even when the tide rises above the weir level (boats are able to cross on big springs) the majority of the rise is due to fresh water being backed up by incoming salt water downstream around Saltney. And I doubt that the name is a co-incidence.

 

[Phill]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

Wishing you a full and speedy recovery.

Perhaps someone who knows how could put a link to this post on the Thames/inland forum.

 

[huldah]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

Thanks for the interest and wishes.

Clyde_Wanderer, there was no clear symptoms to justify going to the doctor until Monday. This is when the stomach swelling and discomfort started. Also, I started to get serious heart weaknesses. This meant I had great difficulty walking uphill. The swelling was most noticeable on getting out of bed. I knew then that I was entering stage three. Stage two is usually symptom free.


The local doctors appear to adopt a wait and see policy. The onset of stage three helps to confirm diagnoses. Even here, there is no immediate hurry to commence treatment. Maybe the immune system clears the more mild cases?


MASH, the problem is that you do not become seriously ill until the last stage of this illness. You have no clear justification for treatment. Indeed, I was more ill in stage one with the bad head, than I am now. However, without treatment, I would probably now be very ill.

I was not using turmeric to avoid proper medical attention, but as a precaution in case my worst fears were correct. It had a noticeable, beneficial effect, but was, as expected, not powerful enough to eliminate the organism. I knew from past experience how effective it can be.


For information on turmeric, read this from the University of Maryland Medical Center.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/turmeric-000277.htm

If I find myself at risk again, I will definitely take turmeric, in the hope that it may prevent the infection becoming established.

Philip

 

[Clyde_Wanderer]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

Wishing you a speedy full recovery.

My father in law had a cousin who contracted it from working on ships many years ago, apparantly he lived for something like 30 yrs with it.
A few years his wife died of it, contracted from him sexually.
I havent seen it myself, but I am told it is mentioned in the Guiness book of records.
C_W

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

My Dad got Leptospirosis a few years ago here in Barbados - probably just from working in the garden, perhaps doing something as mundane as picking up a lime from under the tree, a lime that a rat might have peed on.
And he is a retired GP - he thought he had Dengue Fever, and took himself off to bed, as that is all you can do for Dengue basically.
Five days later he was going downhill rapidly, and turning yellow..... we managed to get him into hospital where they later confirmed that it was leptospirosis.
He lost 20 lbs in 10 days in hospital, and the medics later told me that he only survived because he was fighting fit for 74 and had it 'relatively mildly'.

 

[wooslehunter]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

Hope you're OK soon. It's nice nice.

I pierced my hand while clearing some glass from fresh water some time ago. A mate of mine was there who's a paramedic. I already knew about weils but he advised seeing the doc asap. This I did & he didn't advise a blood test. It would take too long. Weils responds very well to penecilin so he just prescribed a course.

If there's any chance of weils get seen asap. Penecilin costs nothing and cures it fast. Let it incubate & it's a lot more serious.

 

[ningcompoop]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

After following the thread I googled "Leptospirosis" as I was wondering about the incidence of infection - I played in lots of mucky water as a kid, and now occasionaly have rats commuting through my back-yard (Those two facts aren't linked!). I'm not sure how worried I should be, and haven't yet found out, but did find The Leptospirosis Information Center site - everything you wanted to know about Leptospirosis, and a fair bit that you didn't.

I hope you're feeling better soon!

 

[huldah]

Re: I\'ve got Weil\'s

ningcompoop

Many thanks for link. Excellent detail, if at times sobering.

A brief glance suggests that it may be difficult to detect during the silent phase. This may be why the doctors wait to stage three before testing.

I believe I got treatment just in time, so there is (hopefully) minimum damage. I am, though not fully well, getting on with life. I am hoping that the antibiotics will completely eliminate the bug.

Philip