Leptospirosis

Hey all, I am vacationing in Hawaii and foolishly followed my buddy in a freshwater hike to a place called Maunawili Falls. Despite warnings about bacteria in the freshwater, specifically leptospirosis, I let peer pressure get the best of me and climbed up the waterfall barefoot and jumped down.

Of course, I slipped a little, and unbeknownst to me at the time, sliced my foot open. The gash is about half an inch long. I didn't notice it until about 30 minutes later. By then, it was just faintly oozing blood. After a 45 minute hike back, I rubbed hand sanitzer on it vigorously, and then after another 30 minute drive back to the house, I washed the area, and applied hydrogen peroxide and bacitracin.

I've read about leptospirosis online and I'm pretty scared that I contracted it. This seems like a nasty bug. I was wondering what you guys think I should do. It seems from reading online that if I develop symptoms and go to a doctor, they'll want to pound me with antibiotics after (of course) undergoing expensive diagnostic procedures. Any thoughts on the situation?

go to the doctor and get the anti biotics.

they are overused causing resistant strains, and arent good for the body, but i think in ur case its neccessary.

theres a time to use natural treatments and a time to use chemicals.

i checked the therapeutic gudelines, youll want

doxycycline 100 mg (child more than 8 years: 2.5 mg/kg up to 100 mg) orally, 12-hourly for 5 to 7 days

or

benzylpenicillin 1.2 g (child: 30 mg/kg up to 1.2 g) IV, 6-hourly for 5 to 7 days

OR

ceftriaxone 1 g (child: 25 mg/kg up to 1 g) IV, daily for 5 to 7 days.

mild cases dont need treatment.

thissucks wrote:Hey all, I am vacationing in Hawaii and foolishly followed my buddy in a freshwater hike to a place called Maunawili Falls. Despite warnings about bacteria in the freshwater, specifically leptospirosis, I let peer pressure get the best of me and climbed up the waterfall barefoot and jumped down.

Of course, I slipped a little, and unbeknownst to me at the time, sliced my foot open. The gash is about half an inch long. I didn't notice it until about 30 minutes later. By then, it was just faintly oozing blood. After a 45 minute hike back, I rubbed hand sanitzer on it vigorously, and then after another 30 minute drive back to the house, I washed the area, and applied hydrogen peroxide and bacitracin.

I've read about leptospirosis online and I'm pretty scared that I contracted it. This seems like a nasty bug. I was wondering what you guys think I should do. It seems from reading online that if I develop symptoms and go to a doctor, they'll want to pound me with antibiotics after (of course) undergoing expensive diagnostic procedures. Any thoughts on the situation?

topical iodine and internal. That's it.

I wouldn't worry, I spent my late teens and all of my twenties in and around every stream throughout Hawaii, cut myself countless times, on every imaginable body surface (yes, down there too - skinny dipping at night) and was never infected by any bacteria. You're probably in more danger of getting ulcers from worrying about it than actually getting infected.

CausticSymmetry wrote:
topical iodine and internal. That's it.

Thanks CS! I don't have my Lugol's with me, so I bought an iodine tincture at the local drug store. Would 5-10 drops be sufficient?

calvicie wrote:I wouldn't worry, I spent my late teens and all of my twenties in and around every stream throughout Hawaii, cut myself countless times, on every imaginable body surface (yes, down there too - skinny dipping at night) and was never infected by any bacteria. You're probably in more danger of getting ulcers from worrying about it than actually getting infected.

Thanks so much for the encouraging words, man. I'm gonna stop worrying about it unless I get some symptoms in the next few days. One thing that the internet IS good for is freaking you out. I think I've read about every person that has died from leptospirosis in the last 10 years.

Also, thanks to Anxious1.

yeh i meant to only take antibiotics after u get a diagnosis, not just take them pre emptively, if alls fine and diagnosis is negative then no worries.