Ian 2,417 #1 Posted June 15, 2016 A cautionary tale for you guy's and girl's involving stagnant pond water.. My Wife's son Adam had just started a job trial doing landscape gardening, and was told to help clear out a stagnant pond.. Despite having all the safety gear on, thick waders, eye protection, gloves etc he somehow managed to get a bit of wood stuck in he's finger right under the nail after it went through the glove.. Now Adam did what we would all do, pull the bit of wood out, wash the finger and think no more of it.. All was fine until the evening when Adam started to feel like he had a cold/flu coming on... The next day the flu symptoms were a bit worse, so like we would all do Adam just thought he had the flu, it is doing the rounds after all.. The next day the flu symptoms were even worse including a little bit of dizziness.. The next morning Adam was woken up by a shortage of breath and heart palpitations.. He also had strange lumps on he's hands and feet! So he did the right thing and went to the hospital... That was three weeks ago and he is not out yet! What he had caught from the stagnant water was Weil's disease, This infection typically only causes mild flu-like symptoms, including headaches and chills.. If caught early enough!! Unfortunately Adam's wasn't caught early enough and the Weil's disease had started to cause damage to he's spleen, liver, kidney and partially collapsed a lung! That may sound bad but it's all fixable with the right drugs.. The really bad bit is the Weil's had been eating away at two heart valves which is why Adam aged 28 (I think) had two heart valves replaced at St Thomas's hospital yesterday afternoon/evening! The op went well with no problems which was very good news, if Adam recovers well he could be home in a couple of weeks.. So, watch out for stagnant pond water guy's, it can be very nasty life threatening stuff!! Oh, Weil's disease is also available from rat pi$$! 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
C-101plowerpower 548 #2 Posted June 15, 2016 well, i'll stay away from ponds even more now, unless the pond in question is a wheel horse lets hope he gets well soon 1 Triumph66 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wristpin 399 #3 Posted June 15, 2016 (edited) A cautionary tale and I hope that Adam makes a full recovery. The risk is not just confined to stagnant water. This makes interesting reading for anyone working with animals or on the land. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Leptospirosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx Edited June 15, 2016 by Wristpin Typo! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stormin 4,458 #4 Posted June 15, 2016 Canal and river water can contain wells disease. Rats are the main cause I believe. Hope he recovers soon, Ian and is back to normal before long. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rocboni 257 #5 Posted June 15, 2016 I had no idea it could be so bad, you get told about it at college H&S but you don't realise, I'm always paranoid about things like that when working in old farm sheds wiring grain dryers ect with rats everywhere. I'll be extra cautious now, I gather it has to enter via a cut? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
expeatfarmer 591 #6 Posted June 16, 2016 Can also be contracted through eating your saanies with dirty hands! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ian 2,417 #7 Posted June 28, 2016 Morning guy's, thanks for all the kind comment's... Good news.. Adam is now out of hospital and is on the mend. It will be a slow process though, he is in a lot of pain still and is having a few side effect problems with the medication.. These things take time to heal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ranger 373 #8 Posted June 28, 2016 Glad to hear he's turned the corner Ian, in a similar vein, apparently, one of the main sources of Legionnaries disease is the humble windscreen washer bottle, with plain water, conditions they say are ideal, add screen wash and the bugs can't survive. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
