Brucellosis (patient information)

Brucellosis
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
When to seek urgent medical care?
Diagnosis
Treatment options
Prevention
Where to find medical care for Brucellosis?
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
Brucellosis On the Web
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Images of Brucellosis
Videos on Brucellosis
FDA on Brucellosis
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Brucellosis in the news
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Brucellosis
Risk calculators and risk factors for Brucellosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Brucellosis is an infectious disease that occurs from contact with animals carrying Brucella bacteria.

What are the symptoms of Brucellosis ?

Acute brucellosis may begin with mild flu-like symptoms, or symptoms such as:

• Abdominal pain
• Back pain
• Chills
• Excessive sweating
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness
• Weight loss

High fever spikes usually occur every afternoon. The name "undulant" fever is because the fever rises and falls in waves.

Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:

• Muscle pain
• Swollen glands

The illness may be chronic and last for years.

What causes Brucellosis ?

Brucella can infect cattle, goats, camels, dogs, and pigs. The bacteria can spread to humans if you come in contact with infected meat or the placenta of infected animals, or if you eat or drink unpasteurized milk or cheese.

Brucellosis is rare in the United States. About 100 - 200 cases occur each year.

People working in jobs where they often come in contact with animals or meat -- such as slaughterhouse workers, farmers, and veterinarians -- are at higher risk.

Diagnosis

• Blood culture
• Bone marrow culture
• Clean catch urine culture
• CSF culture
• Serology for brucellosis antigen

This disease may also change the results of the following tests:

• Febrile/cold agglutinins
• Quantitative immunoglobulins (nephelometry)
• Serum immunoelectrophoresis

When to Contact a Medical Professional ?

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:

• You develop symptoms of brucellosis
• Your symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment
• You develop new symptoms

Treatment

Antibiotics are used to treat the infection and prevent it from coming back. Longer courses of therapy may be needed if there are complications.

Prevention of Tuberous sclerosis

Drinking and eating only pasteurized milk and cheeses is the most important way to prevent brucellosis. People who handle meat should wear protective glasses and clothing and protect skin breaks from infection.

Detecting infected animals controls the infection at its source. Vaccination is available for cattle, but not humans.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Relapse may occur, and symptoms may continue for years. As with tuberculosis, the illness can come back after a long period of time.

Possible complications

• Bone and joint sores (lesions)
• Encephalitis
• Infective endocarditis
• Meningitis

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000597.htm