Brucellosis (patient information): Difference between revisions
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Other symptoms that may occur with this disease: | Other symptoms that may occur with this disease: | ||
* [[Muscle pain]] | * [[Muscle pain]] | ||
* Swollen glands | * Swollen glands | ||
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The illness may be chronic and last for years. | The illness may be chronic and last for years. | ||
==What causes Brucellosis ?== | == 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. | 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. | ||
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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. | 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]] | |||
Revision as of 04:33, 6 August 2012
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Brucellosis |
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Brucellosis On the Web |
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For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
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