Teen dies of leptospirosis 4 days before birthday

Leptospirosis claimed the life of a 17-year-old student four days before his birthday, according to a "24 Oras" report from Marisol Abdurahman.

Justin Espinosa was bitten by a rat. Two weeks after the rat bite, Justin also went swimming in the Navotas City floodwaters with friends.

Leilani and Allan Espinosa, Justin’s parents, are in mourning.

The victim's mother Leilani said the day after Justin went swimming then started to feel weak. The family then brought Justin to the Navotas City Hospital.

“Yung doktor po na kausap namin, tingin pa lang po, alam na nila na leptos po,” Leilani said. (The doctor we talked to only took one look, they already knew it was leptos.)

Allan, the victim’s father, said they were shocked by what happened.

“Hindi namin akalain na aabot sa ganoon yung sakit niya. Dalawang araw lang bumigay na siya,” Allan said.

(We did not expect that the illness would be like that. In just two days, they passed away.)

A number of patients went to the emergency room of San Lazaro Hospital to seek treatment for leptospirosis.

One of them, a five-year-old, was crying as he was held by his mother. Even if he was not playing in the rain, he had gotten a fever.

Meanwhile, a 37-year-old delivery rider was also underwent treatment. He had been wading through the floods for the past few days to work. He found out too late that he had a cut on his legs.

He had been vomiting and suffering from diarrhea, with his fever lasting three days.

An 11-year-old patient who was admitted for leptospirosis said experienced muscle pain. Some friends had invited him to play in the floods with them.

On Thursday alone, 26 people had been admitted to the San Lazaro Hospital for leptospirosis, with one patient dying the night prior. The hospital has recorded 96 cases since January in total. They were already expecting the influx of patients, so the management was able to prepare in advance.

“Ang incubation period ng leptospirosis ay mula as early as two days and as far as 30 days, pero usually after two weeks dun namin nakikita ang pagdagsa ng pasyente,” San Lazaro Hospital Medical Chief David Suplico.

(The incubation period of leptospirosis is as early as two days and as far as 30 days, but usually after two weeks this is when we see the patients come in.)

Suplico said it was dangerous once the leptospirosis bacteria reached the kidney. At that point, it would be difficult for a patient to urinate. They may also get severe respiratory symptoms and would later have to be intubated. — Jean Mangaluz/BAP, GMA News