Alert: Weils Disease increase

[Les W]

Paul's source replicates most of the information on the NCA card bar mentioning Hereford Hospital as the central reference unit for the disease.  I understand samples go there for confirmation that you have the disease which may explain why it takes some days to get confirmation after giving the blood sample.

This is quite important. A blood test through the NHS takes a long time (a week or more) to get results back. The leptospirosis central reference unit at Hereford Hospital return the results in 24 hours. Fast diagnosis is essential in cases of Weil's disease. A lot of GP's won't know about this, especially within towns and cities, so this information should be communicated to them as well...

 

[Speleofish]

I think the important thing is to start antibiotics as soon as the disease is suspected. If your GP is unwilling to prescribe them for you, you should ask him to refer you to the nearest infectious diseases department the same day or you could present yourself to your local hospital Emergency Department (obviously, if you are properly ill, that's where you'll end up anyway). The key thing is that the initial diagnosis is a clinical one: if the clinical picture seems right, you shouldn't wait for the definitive serology (from Hereford) before starting treatment. If the test comes back positive, it reassures you that the diagnosis is correct. If it's negative you can stop antibiotics. Antibiotics are most effective if given early (first few days), much less effective (if at all) if given late.

 

[kay]

Trouble with posting is it would cost over ?500 to send them out as a separate item (ignoring the time to lick 1000 stamps and envelopes - been there and done that).  With around 1000 of them, I don't have enough to cover all 5000 plus members of BCA so I don't think distributing them with the green (or red) cards will do.  (Plus Glenn would be not very happy counting them out.)  Hidden Earth is a goer but I do like the idea of caving shops.  I will follow up on that one and any other suggestions which may subsequently arise when I get back home.  Thanks all for the ideas.

BCA party weekend is coming up, so may be a way to get them to intermediaries who would pass them to caving shops in their area.

 

[Pitlamp]

I think the important thing is to start antibiotics as soon as the disease is suspected. If your GP is unwilling to prescribe them for you, you should ask him to refer you to the nearest infectious diseases department the same day or you could present yourself to your local hospital Emergency Department (obviously, if you are properly ill, that's where you'll end up anyway). The key thing is that the initial diagnosis is a clinical one: if the clinical picture seems right, you shouldn't wait for the definitive serology (from Hereford) before starting treatment. If the test comes back positive, it reassures you that the diagnosis is correct. If it's negative you can stop antibiotics. Antibiotics are most effective if given early (first few days), much less effective (if at all) if given late.

I'd not disagree with any of the above - but what I would say is that, when you're feeling like hell, even just fighting your way past the receptionist at the health centre is far from a joke. Keeping a card with the basic info in your wallet would be a very useful aide memoire and it's something to shove at the doctor when you might not articulate the situation very well yourself, if very poorly. If the card is produced by the national body it does look fairly authoritative.

When I had it earlier this year I felt I was treated very well by the NHS - once past the receptionist that is. The coherent story I gave to the receptionist, based on the excellent BCA information, was what swung it.

 

[JasonC]

Has WD ever been reported in Easegill, does anyone know ?

I ask because I went on a trip from LH to Cape Kennedy on Sunday, and since Monday pm have been feeling a bit fluish - feverish, a bit achy - but by no means incapacitated.

Seems unlikely to me as the trip was very dry, I didn't swallow any water, and I wore gloves (ok, one had a small hole, but I didn't get any cuts).

Obviously, a prudent person would advise going to the GP asap, but due to various commitments, this will be spectacularly inconvenient over the next few days - so I don't want to go unless it's essential.

 

[jonnyrocketboots]

Thanks for the heads up guys, As an aside from caving and as the weathers been so nice Ive been spending my evenings cooling off and playing with the dog in the local river.  While I'm aware of Weils disease the notes and experiences of folk  on here has really pricked my ears up!
When I've got out of the water Ive used some anti-bacterial wipes to give my hands and keys a clean?
Is this good practice can anyone say? Would the little alcohol gel bottles be better?
Out caving I dont really wear gloves until I think I need to as I like the feel of things (as daft as that may sound!)

So when out digging on a surface dig on farmland and we stop for a brew can anyone suggest best precautions?

Thanks in return

JRB

 

[JasonC]

To avoid any undue worry, I'd like to make it clear that I did not get Weil's disease from Easegill (or anywhere else).
A nasty infection, but not cave-related in any way.

Carry on....

 

[cap n chris]

Print it on the obverse of the BCA card?

Good idea, it's double sided anyway so would only be an artwork change, and there's plenty of room.

Didn't happen this time round. Need someone to lobby for it to happen 2016 onwards. Any BCA reps reading this?

 

[Bob Mehew]

It was discussed at the last Council meeting and a digit was extracted.  A draft text is in final stages of approval and should be out within the next month or so, with cards probably to follow.  As an enticer, one statistic is that around 60 people in England and Wales per year get it, mostly involved in water sports and of those, two or three die from it EACH YEAR!

PS - the old NCA card was so out of date as the phone number was pre 01.

 

[cap n chris]

It was discussed at the last Council meeting and a digit was extracted.

Hoorah! Nice turn of phrase, Bob.

 

[Pitlamp]

What you might not realise is that Bob has actually done a lot of work on this in recent months.
Thanks Bob!

 

[Bob Mehew]

If you have not read Descent, then the BCA web site has just been updated, see http://british-caving.org.uk/wiki3/doku.php?id=publications_information:weils.  Please note LRU at Hereford hospital is no longer functioning as of 31 March 2015.  The new contact point is RIPL of Public Health England at Porton Down.

 

[martinr]

If you have not read Descent, then the BCA web site has just been updated, see http://british-caving.org.uk/wiki3/doku.php?id=publications_information:weils.  Please note LRU at Hereford hospital is no longer functioning as of 31 March 2015.  The new contact point is RIPL of Public Health England at Porton Down.

Just a thought Bob. The card will have a long URL (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/346000/P1_Rare_and_Imported_Pathogens.pdf ) printed on it. Why not replece the long URL with a Tiny url? You could even have a custom alias such as "Pathogens Request form" - a lot easier to type!

 

[Cookie]

Good idea Martin.

I can also setup redirects of the form www.british-caving.org.uk/weils_disease or www.british-caving.org.uk/pathogens_request_form which have some advantages over the tiny url option.

 

[damian]

Cookie's post has clashed with mine ... I set up the tinyurl you suggested, but Cookie has a better plan!

Good idea Martin.

I can also setup redirects of the form www.british-caving.org.uk/weils_disease or www.british-caving.org.uk/pathogens_request_form which have some advantages over the tiny url option.

If you have not read Descent, then the BCA web site has just been updated, see http://british-caving.org.uk/wiki3/doku.php?id=publications_information:weils.  Please note LRU at Hereford hospital is no longer functioning as of 31 March 2015.  The new contact point is RIPL of Public Health England at Porton Down.

Just a thought Bob. The card will have a long URL (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/346000/P1_Rare_and_Imported_Pathogens.pdf ) printed on it. Why not replece the long URL with a Tiny url? You could even have a custom alias such as "Pathogens Request form" - a lot easier to type!