Table of contents:
- Various diseases caused by mice
- 1. Hantavirus
- 2. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)
- 3. Bubonic plague
- 4. Lymphocytic chorio-meningitis (LCM)
- 5. Rat bite fever (RBF)
- 6. Leptospirosis
Diseases caused by rats are very diverse, some can even be life threatening if not treated immediately. Therefore, it is important to understand the symptoms and how to deal with them. Check out the explanation below.
Various diseases caused by mice
Rats can spread more than 35 diseases worldwide. The disease caused by mice can be transmitted directly to humans.
Transmission can be through feces, urine, saliva, or rat bites. Meanwhile, disease caused by germs in mice can also be spread indirectly through fleas, mites, or fleas that eat mice.
Check out the explanation of various diseases caused by germs in mice below.
1. Hantavirus
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) was first discovered in 1993. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this disease is transmitted by types of deer rats, white-legged mice, rice rats, and cotton rats.
This disease from rodents is contagious when you inhale particles from the urine, feces, or saliva of rats that are in the air. You can also become infected if you touch or eat something that has been in contact with something that has been exposed to rats. Being bitten by a mouse can also result in this disease, although it's rare.
The early symptoms of hantavirus (HPS) are very similar to flu symptoms, such as:
- Fever
- Headache
- Gag
- Diarrhea
- Stomach ache
About 4 to 10 days later, the affected person may also experience coughing, shortness of breath, and a buildup of fluid in the lungs.
There is no treatment, drug, or vaccine to treat hantavirus. However, people affected by this disease should immediately get medical care in an intensive care room. Later, you will be given oxygen therapy to reduce the effects of severe respiratory problems.
2. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)
Just like hantavirus, HFRS is a fever that occurs with bleeding (hemorrhagic) and is accompanied by kidney syndrome. HFRS includes diseases such as dengue fever, epidemic dengue fever, and epidemic nephropathia. The spread of disease caused by mice is similar to hantavirus disease.
This disease usually develops in the body from 2-8 weeks after exposure. The initial symptoms can be characterized by the following conditions:
- Persistent headaches
- Back and stomach pain
- Fever
- Shivering
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
Sometimes, this disease can also be characterized by a slightly reddish face, eyes and skin. Severe symptoms can also appear when a person experiences this disease, namely low blood pressure, acute shock, and acute kidney failure.
HFRS is treated by controlling the amount of fluids and electrolytes in your body. In addition, the disease caused by mice can also be treated by:
- Maintenance of oxygen levels and blood pressure
- Dialysis for severe fluid overload
- The drug ribavirin given by infusion
3. Bubonic plague
Bubonic plague is caused by bacteria Yersinia pesticide which are transmitted by rodents and other rodents. The bacteria that cause bubonic plague are carried by fleas that are contracted from rodents, so the fleas will then spread the bacteria when they bite your body.
Generally, bubonic plague spreads in densely populated areas with poor sanitation. The most common symptom of bubonic plague is the appearance of swollen lymph nodes in the groin, armpits, or neck.
In some cases, bubonic plague can attack the lungs. This condition is certainly very dangerous because it can easily be transmitted from person to person, through droplet or droplets of saliva when coughing or sneezing. Disease complications from these mice can lead to meningitis and even death.
You need to be rushed to the hospital immediately if you have bubonic plague. The doctor will treat the disease caused by mice treated with antibiotics.
4. Lymphocytic chorio-meningitis (LCM)
Lymphocytic chorio-meningitis (LCM) is a rat disease caused by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), a strain of the Arenaviridae virus. LCM can be carried by rodents that usually live in homes.
In addition, this virus can also be spread by domestic rodents such as hamsters. If you are bitten or exposed to the animal's saliva and urine, you are at high risk of developing this infectious disease.
This disease initially will not cause certain symptoms. New symptoms appear after 8-13 days after contracting the virus in these mice. You will experience symptoms, such as:
- Fever
- Lack of appetite
- Muscle ache
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
In addition, other symptoms that appear can include:
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Joint pain
- Chest pain
- Testicular pain
- Parotid pain (salivary glands)
In rare cases, LCM disease can progress further, causing inflammation of the spinal cord. If this happens, several symptoms will appear, such as muscle weakness, paralysis, and other changes in the body.
LCM requires intensive hospital care that is determined based on severity. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids, may be given under certain conditions.
5. Rat bite fever (RBF)
RBF is a disease caused by a rat bite. These bites can lead to infection caused by bacteria Spirillum minus or Streptobacillus moniliformis . When a person has RBF, various unusual symptoms will appear.
Symptoms arising from rat bite fever is:
- Fever
- Gag
- Headache
- Muscle ache
- Joint pain
- Redness of the skin
Apart from bites, the disease caused by bacteria in mice can also be transmitted through food and drinks that have been eaten or exposed to rat saliva. If left untreated, a rat bite is what causes it rite bite fever can be a dangerous or even fatal disease.
This disease, which is caused by bacteria in mice, must be treated immediately when you experience symptoms. The doctor will treat your condition with antibiotics.
6. Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that is transmitted by mice when a person has an open wound. It is possible that infection occurs when the open wound that has not healed comes into contact with or is directly exposed to an agent, such as water or soil, which has been contaminated by the rodent's urine.
There are many symptoms of bacterial disease in mice, such as:
- High fever
- Headache
- Shivering
- Muscle ache
- Gag
- Yellow skin and eyes
- Red eye
- Stomach ache
- Diarrhea
- Rash
Although transmitted from mice to humans, the bacteria that cause leptospirosis will not transfer between humans. Accidentally touching an intermediary that has been contaminated by rodent urine has the opportunity to transmit the leptospirosis bacteria.
This disease should not be underestimated. The reason is, leptospirosis can develop into meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain), kidney damage, respiratory problems, and death if not treated immediately.
Leptospirosis is treated with antibiotics, which must be given in the early stages of infection. In more severe cases, you may need antibiotics that are given intravenously.
You can prevent the above diseases by paying attention to the risk factors. Don't forget to always keep yourself and the environment around you clean. Immediately consult the symptoms you feel to your doctor.