What Is Weil's Disease?

What Is Weil’s Disease?

Weil’s Disease is a severe form of Leptospirosis – a bacterial infection caused by the Leptospira bacteria. Leptospirosis itself can, in some cases, go unnoticed as symptoms can be very mild or attributed to other factors; such as a cold or the ‘flu, however in some cases it develops into Weil’s Disease which can be potentially fatal. This happens when the bacteria infect some specific organs within the body such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart and brain.

Weil’s Disease is a zoonotic disease; meaning that it is spread from animals to humans, particularly from rats and other rodents, but also cattle, pigs and dogs. It is most commonly caught as a result of exposure to urine, blood or tissue from an animal that carries the bacteria; this can occur as a result of touching an infected animal or coming into contact with water or soil that has been contaminated with the bacteria.

Symptoms can occur between 3 and 30 days from the time of infection and often come in two distinct phases; the first of which can appear similar to the flu with a high temperature, chills, fever and vomiting. If it develops to the second phase it can become very dangerous with symptoms similar to meningitis; featuring jaundice, abdominal pain and in some cases kidney or liver failure.

While global infection rates are relatively high, cases in the UK are quite rare due to the colder climate; according to the Health Protection Agency there are usually less than 40 cases per year in the UK, whereas Australia averages over 100 cases, and France over 200 cases per year.

Infection of humans most commonly occurs through exposure to water contaminated with rat or cattle urine. It can be contracted from contact with any fresh or untreated water such as ponds, canals, lakes and rivers either by gaining access to the body through an open wound, or as a result of such water being swallowed.

The disease was first described in 1886 by Adolf Weil, but well before that time it had been recognised as a disease even by the ancient Chinese, who called it ‘rice-field jaundice’. It was responsible for an epidemic among the Native Americans when it was introduced (by accident) by the European settlers and the rats that came with them on the ships.

If the infection is caught early it can be successfully treated with antibiotics, however if it goes unnoticed in its early stage, or is not treated properly, it can result in hospitalisation, and in some cases, death.

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