DOH to NCR hospitals: Use rapid test for leptospirosis

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) urged hospitals in Metro Manila Wednesday to use a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) to diagnose leptospirosis following reports that the number of cases is higher by 221 percent this year compared to 2010.

Dr. Ed Janairo, DOH director for Metro Manila, said it is necessary for leptospirosis patients to be treated early to avoid fatal complications like kidney and respiratory failure.

“Let us prevent the spread of this disease to avoid its complications. It is preventable and can be treated once it is properly diagnosed,” he said in a statement.

In RDT, results are available in 10 minutes or an hour at the most. To do this, blood samples are taken from the patients and then a reagent is used to determine if it is contaminated with leptospirosis bacteria. The test can be applied to persons with high fever and who have history of wading in floodwaters. Janairo said conventional tests take three days to one week to get results.

“The rainy season is far from over. As much as possible, let us avoid wading and spending much time submerging our feet in floodwaters,” he added.

Records from the DOH’s Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit showed that from Jan. 1 to Oct. 14, there were 456 leptospirosis cases, including 45 deaths in Metro Manila. This is 221 percent higher compared to the 142 cases, including seven deaths, during the same period in 2010.