Symptoms include fever, headache, chills, nausea and vomiting, eye inflammation, and muscle aches. People who are seriously ill with leptospirosis often need to be hospitalized. Symptoms usually begin about 10 days after infection. Leptospirosis is diagnosed by a special blood test that is available through state health departments. Severe or untreated leptospirosis can lead to organ system damage and, in rare cases, death.
Leptospirosis is treatable with antibiotics.
Treatment should be started as soon as possible. Severely ill persons might need intravenous antibiotic treatment and other supportive care. Mild leptospirosis is common in tropical countries where people have regular contact with fresh water and animals. The disease is under-diagnosed in the United States. The 50 to 150 cases reported each year are probably only a fraction of the total number of infections.