The Manila City Health Department (MHD) reports 156 leptospirosis cases since the beginning of the year, and the concerns are heightened as persistent rains brought by the southwest monsoon (habagat) create flooding.
The MHD opened health centers today and tomorrow providing free doxycycline to help protect residents against leptospirosis.
People must first be assessed by a health professional before taking the medication.
For adults, doxycycline is available at health centers for patients who meet the criteria for prophylaxis. For children aged eight years and below, different medications and dosing are required, so consultation with a doctor or health center is advised.
According to the US CDC, Leptospirosis is a disease caused by bacteria. Infected animals spread the bacteria through their urine (pee). When infected animals pee, the bacteria get into the water or soil and can live there for weeks to months.
You can be infected if you touch fresh water, soil, or other objects contaminated with infected animal urine. The most common ways to get infected is urine or contaminated water getting in your eyes, nose, mouth, or broken skin (such as a cut or scratch). You can also get infected by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water.
Some people with leptospirosis do not have any symptoms. When symptoms occur, they can include fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomiting, jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), red eyes, stomach pain, diarrhea, and sometimes a rash. Without proper treatment with antibiotics, people with leptospirosis may develop serious problems with their kidneys, liver, or lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). In some cases, leptospirosis can cause death.
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