DOH reminder: Don’t self-medicate vs leptospirosis
With many people forced to wade through floodwaters in the past few days due to torrential rains caused by the southwest monsoon (“habagat”) and typhoons, the Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday reminded the public that doxycycline, an antibiotic used against leptospirosis, cannot be taken without a doctor’s prescription.
“Misusing the drug may make it ineffective against bacteria and will make it harder to treat simple infections. This may lead to a more long-term or severe disease,” the DOH said.
It advised the public to consult a doctor first as the dosage varies depending on the exposure or risk level of the patient.
According to medical experts, people can get leptospirosis, which is caused by the leptospira bacteria, when they come into contact with water, food or soil containing contaminated animal urine. Early symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea.
The DOH previously said that infected persons can also experience jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark-colored urine, low urine output and severe headache.
