Health chief gives tips in preventing leptospirosis

MANILA, Philippines — Exposed to floodwaters? Take doxycycline, the antibiotic drug used as standard prophylaxis for leptospirosis.

Health Secretary Janette Garin reminded those who have been exposed to contaminated floodwaters brought by Typhoon Lando to take two capsules of doxcycline 100 mg within 24 to 72 hours of exposure as a preventive measure against the potentially fatal disease.

But the drug should not be administered to pregnant women and children below eight years old.

“If with cuts or lesions or accidental ingestion of floodwater, take two capsules of the antibiotic for three to five days,” said Garin.

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that is currently recommended to prevent leptospirosis among those with increased risk of exposure, particularly those in the flooded areas.

Leptospirosis is an infection commonly transmitted to humans from water that has been contaminated by animal urine, particularly rats, and comes in contact with lesions in the skin or eyes.

Symptoms of the infection include fever, chills and severe headache, which usually appear four to 14 days following exposure to contaminated floodwaters or mud.  Other signs include red eyes, jaundice, tea-colored urine and difficulty to urinate.

Garin also advised those who sustained punctures or wounds during the typhoon to get a tetanus shot to prevent the risk of the disease caused by infection by a bacterium found in soil, dust and manure.  SFM