What is Weil's Syndrome?

Weil's syndrome is a fairly rare infectious disorder. Weil's syndrome is caused by the Leptospira bacteria which are also known as Leptospirosis. Weil's syndrome is characterized by the malfunction of the liver and the kidneys. The liver becomes enlarged; enlargement of the liver is known as hepatomegaly. The skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow, which is a condition known as jaundice. Weil's syndrome can occur when people are exposed to animals that are infected with the Leptospirosis organism.

Symptoms of Weil's syndrome

The symptoms of Weil's syndrome include:

Muscle pain

Headache

Fever

Nausea and vomiting

Productive coughing

Nosebleed

Blood stained sputum

Jaundice

Bruising (bleeding from the muscles)

Tiny purplish-red spots on the skin

Fever

Enlarged lymph nodes

Difficulty in breathing

Low blood oxygen levels

The signs of kidney and liver dysfunction appear between the 3rd to the 6th day Signs of kidney problems include:

Proteinuria (protein in the urine)

Hematuria (blood in the urine)

Pyuria (pus in the urine)

Azotemia (execessive urea in the blood)

Enlarged kidney

Bleeding from injuries to miniature blood vessels

Low platelet levels in the blood

The damage to the liver is usually not very severe; most people are able to recover from liver damage caused by Weil's syndrome. The fever usually subsides by the 7th day of the syndrome.

Causes of Weil's syndrome

Causes of Weil's syndrome can result from an infection from the Leptospira bacteria, or the L Pomona or the L canicola bacteria. The infection is usually transmitted to humans through the tissue or urine of wild or domestic animals. The infection enters through the skin from scratches or cuts on the skin and mucous membranes. Weil's syndrome can occur in all ages of people. Approximately 75 percent of the cases of infected persons are male. The people most at risk for developing Weil's syndrome are those who work as veterinarians, farmers, sewer workers, and abattoir (slaughter house) workers.

Diagnosis of Weil's syndrome

The diagnosis of Weil's syndrome can be made after a series of urine, blood and other diagnostic tests are done.

Treatment for Weil's syndrome

Treatment for Weil's syndrome should be started soon after the onset of symptoms. The treatment will include the administration of antibiotics through an IV. Peritoneal dialysis may be necessary to decrease the stress on the kidneys.

Source:

http://www.cigna.com/healthinfo/nord388.html