Man Bitten By Toilet Rat Is Hospitalized With Organ Failure

In a harrowing incident reminiscent of urban legends, a 76-year-old man from Canada found himself in critical condition after encountering a toilet-dwelling rodent. Unlike its fictional counterpart, this real-life mutant sewer rat proved to be far from friendly, leading to dire consequences for the unfortunate individual.

The ordeal began innocuously enough as the man attempted to remove the rat from his toilet, a task that quickly turned perilous when the creature sank its teeth into his hand, biting two of his fingers. Initially treated with basic wound care and a tetanus booster at the emergency room, the man was discharged home, seemingly on the path to recovery.

However, fate had other plans as just 18 days later, the man returned to the ER, plagued by a host of alarming symptoms including fever, headaches, and abdominal pain. Medical assessments revealed concerning signs of organ dysfunction, with his heart rate elevated, blood pressure low, and kidneys impaired. Admitted to the intensive care unit, his condition rapidly deteriorated, necessitating urgent intervention.

While the wound from the rat bite had largely healed, medical professionals suspected a deeper underlying cause for his deteriorating health. Subsequent blood and urine analyses revealed the presence of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection commonly transmitted to humans via animals such as rats. It is believed that the rat's bite, breaking the skin barrier, facilitated the entry of the bacteria into the man's body, precipitating the severe infection.

Leptospirosis poses a significant global health concern, with over one million reported cases annually, a substantial portion of which result in fatalities. With mortality rates ranging from 5 to 15%, prompt diagnosis and treatment are imperative in mitigating its potentially lethal effects.

Fortunately, swift medical intervention, including administration of antibiotics and steroids, proved effective in the man's case. After three days of intensive care, he was deemed stable enough for discharge, marking a hopeful turn in his arduous battle against the ravages of a chance encounter with a seemingly innocuous toilet rat.