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I May Have Been Exposed To Lepto. Should I Ask

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Posted on Mon, 28 Sep 2020
Question: I may have been exposed to Lepto. Should I ask for a preventative dosage of antibiodtics? My immune system isn't great right now....healing hopefully from reactivated EBV and mold.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (45 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Leptospirosis is not common in the USA!

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Leptospirosis is not common in the USA. If you strongly think you have been exposed, which am curious to know how and why, you may take a single prophylactic dose of Doxycycline.

Hope this helps and guides, You may share with me the surrounding circumstances that prompted this though. Feel free to follow up with me as you please.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)
I was cleaning out weeds from the irrigation ditch. And I noticed after I was done that I had a couple small cuts on my hand that weren't there previously so I must have gotten scratched by the weeds. The irrigation ditch travels through pastures with cattle off of a large flowing river. The water was flowing in the irrigation ditch. It is very hot here but extremely low humidity. And there hasn't been any rains recently were in the middle of a drought. And I know those are all factors that can influence the incidence of lepto.

I am of course worried about antibiotic resistance and also that antibiotic can cause neuropathy. And my one synonym with reactivated EBV is neuropathy so I don't want to exacerbate that.

Some of my dogs have been drinking out of this irrigation ditch for over 20 years when we are irrigating during the summer and as far as I know they've never picked up lepto. I tried to keep them away from the ditch but it's difficult.

So would appreciate any follow-up comments that you have. Thank you.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (0 minute later)
Brief Answer:
I don't think a chemoprophylaxis with antibiotics is necessary now

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

From the above there seems to be no tangible evidence that you were exposed. I would rather not recommend any pill at this time.

I hope this helps. Feel free to quiz further if you so desire
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (2 hours later)
Just one more question and I will quick bugging you.

When can I "kind of relax" if no symptoms pop up?

I know that the incubation pd. can extend to 30 days...but typically....it appears to have a window of 5 - 10 or 5 - 14 days.

Am trying not to worry....and if treated as soon as possible...appears to resolve...but would be nice to breathe a sign of relief once I get beyond ______ days. Thanks so much.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You should feel good right away.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Honestly, I don't believe there is any reason for you to be worried after hearing the surrounding circumstances. If I were genuinely convinced you had a probability of more than 1%, I would have recommended the chemoprophylaxis. However, am not.

So, feel good right away. For future reference, symptoms beyond 14days are rare in practice.

I wish you well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Chobufo Ditah (35 hours later)
Hi I just want to make sure of one more thing. If a person does have symptoms is a fever always present?

I have been having body aches last day or so which could be explained by a new supplement protocol that I started. But just wanted to double-check on the fever presence. Thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Chobufo Ditah (4 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Fever, rigors, headache and muscle pain in 75-100% of persons

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Most people would have fever and other symptoms are indicated above. Isolated muscle ache, with probable alternative explanation, is not suggestive of leptospirosis.

I wish you well.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Answered by
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Dr. Chobufo Ditah

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 6323 Questions

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I May Have Been Exposed To Lepto. Should I Ask

Brief Answer: Leptospirosis is not common in the USA! Detailed Answer: Hi, Leptospirosis is not common in the USA. If you strongly think you have been exposed, which am curious to know how and why, you may take a single prophylactic dose of Doxycycline. Hope this helps and guides, You may share with me the surrounding circumstances that prompted this though. Feel free to follow up with me as you please.