Leptospirosis is a bacterial illness caused by a spirochette. If you looked at the leptospirosis interrogans bacteria under a microscope, it is coiled like a spiral and the end bends up to look like a hook or question mark.

Leptospirosis is found in the urine of animals. It can be found in rats, cows, sheep, horses, pigs,and frogs, animals we have on Kauai. In the mainland leptospirosis infects these animals plus squirrels, opossums, shrews and hedgehogs.

If the animal urinates in the water the water becomes contaminated with leptospirosis. When it rains very hard, run off can come off the grass where the animals live and infect the water. A person can get leptospirosis if they go into the contaminated water and the spirochette gets into their blood. This can happen if water gets into your mouth, nose or even ears where the skin is thin and not made to be a barrier. Leptospirosis can also enter your body through a cut or scrape on your skin.

Leptospirosis is thought to be more common in rivers where the water is still and not flowing. Or in rivers where there are more animals that use it as a water source. Leptospirosis seems more common in the summer.

Symptoms of leptospirosis are: fever, usually high above 102 degrees, headache, chills, weakness. When treated early with antibiotics, usually penicillin or erythromycin recovery is good. If not treated, the illness can progress to kidney failure and other complications. Incubation is usually 10 days from exposure.