Doctors warn of severe lung complications from rat fever

Doctors are seeing a growing tendency for rat fever to cause serious lung complications, including bleeding within the lungs and severe breathing difficulties, Consultant Physician at Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Dr Kolitha Jayasundara has warned.

Speaking at a Health Promotion Bureau media briefing, on wednesday, he urged people who develop fever after exposure to mud or potentially contaminated water to seek treatment promptly and tell their doctor about their recent activities.

Dr Jayasundara said lung involvement had become a notable feature among patients in recent years. Bleeding within the lungs could reduce oxygen levels and leave patients struggling to breathe.

Although rat fever, or leptospirosis, had long been associated with liver damage, it could also affect the kidneys, heart and nervous system, he said.

A severe cough, particularly coughing up blood, could indicate lung involvement. Changes in urine colour and reduced urine output also required attention, as they could signal damage to the liver or kidneys.

People should not assume that dark urine was simply the result of drinking too little water, he said.

High fever, headache and severe muscle pain were among the symptoms. However, because these could resemble dengue, chikungunya or influenza, a patient’s account of recent activities was important in identifying the illness.

Dr Jayasundara said patients should explain where they had been and whether they had worked or played in muddy areas, entered paddy fields or come into contact with potentially contaminated water.

He cautioned against relying on home remedies or taking painkillers without medical advice. Antibiotics were available in hospitals, and early treatment could prevent the disease from progressing to serious complications.

The risk extended beyond rural farming communities, he said. People in urban areas and those exposed to contaminated mud or water during other activities could also become infected.

Consultant Community Physician at the Epidemiology Unit, Dr Thushani Dabarera, said 6,900 cases had been reported so far this year, fewer than during the corresponding period last year.

She warned that cases could rise with rainfall and increased agricultural activity during the Maha cultivation season.

The bacteria responsible for the disease reach water and damp soil through the urine of infected rats and certain other mammals. They can enter the body through damaged skin or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose and mouth.

Dr Dabarera urged those at risk to cover wounds with waterproof dressings, wear suitable protective footwear and obtain preventive antibiotics through their local Medical Officer of Health or Public Health Inspector where advised.