Brucellosis (patient information)

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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

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Brucellosis

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FDA on Brucellosis

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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:

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:

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.

Who is at highest 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.

When to seek urgent medical care?

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

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:

Treatment options

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

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.

Where to find medical care for Brucellosis?

[3]

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

Sources

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