Symptoms of Leptospirosis

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Leptospirosis starts about ten days (it can vary between 7 and 12 days) after infection with the bacteria, and may be so mild as to be unsuspected. In more severe cases it starts suddenly with headache, fever, chills, severe muscle aches and tenderness, redness of the eyes, loss of appetite, vomiting and sometimes a skin rash.

Many cases settle after a week or two, but in some the liver, kidneys, heart muscle and brain linings (meninges) are affected. Jaundice occurs in only about 10 per cent of cases. Jaundice, heart failure and meningitis are danger signs.

Other symptoms and signs include:

Diarrhoea
Joint pain (arthralgia)
Bone pain
Cough
Sore throat
Enlargement of the spleen (splenomegaly)
Lymph node enlargement (lymphadenopathy)
Enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly)
Heart beat irregularities
Internal bleeding

The pain and tenderness in the muscles can be very severe and is an aid to diagnosis. The headache is usually intense, sometimes throbbing, and is associated with severe eye-ache. If persistent, the headache may indicate leptospiral meningitis.

Some affected people suffer mental disturbances such as delirium, hallucinations, and even psychotic behaviour.