Leptospirosis outbreak is one of the consequences of typhoons. Photo by OFWToday

A study done by Dr. Myrna T. Mendoza and Dr. Evalyn A. Roxas of the Universtiy of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP–PGH) and supported by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (PCHRD–DOST) recommends that leptospirosis be a part of the illnesses doctors should take into consideration when huge typhoons like Ondoy and Sendong ravage the country.

The researchers analyzed the cases of leptospirosis in the outbreak following typhoon Ondoy in 2009. They discovered that leptospirosis victims show a series of clinical manifestations that ranges from nonspecific (also found in other kinds of diseases) to fatal. Therefore, doctors and health providers are warned to never rule out leptospirosis immediately without providing further investigation during typhoon occurrences in the future.

“This study emphasizes the importance of awareness and vigilance in investigating patients’ clinical symptoms of leptospirosis during the monsoon months when flooding is common. Early recognition and detection of the disease will decrease the rate of incidence and fatality,” Dr. Mendoza said.

Fever, for instance, has consistently been reported in patients with leptospirosis. Headache, general muscle pain, abdominal pain and diarrhea are also very common symptoms of leptospirosis. However, these symptoms are also found in patients afflicted with cholera, pneumonia, dengue and other diseases that also emerge during typhoons.

With careful assessments of the patients, doctors can save more lives. Unsuspecting leptospirosis victims can be treated accordingly if the doctors would be more critical in giving diagnosis based on the symptoms that they see in their patients.

“For a patient consulting with nonspecific symptoms following a typhoon, with history of exposure to floodwaters, leptospirosis should be part of differential diagnosis,” the study warned.