Tularemia is a disease whose main source of infection is animals such as hares, wild rabbits and rodents. Hence other names for tularemia - rodent plague, hare disease or rabbit fever. What are the symptoms of tularemia? Who is most at risk of getting infected? What is the treatment?

Tularemiatozoonotic diseasecontagious, other names for which are rodent plague, hare disease or rabbit fever. There are different forms of tularemia, resulting from different routes of infection and symptoms. Some of them can be very violent and lead to death, especially if they are not recognized and therefore treated on time.

Tularemia - causes. How can you get infected with thalaremia?

Tularemia is caused by the rod -Francisella tularensis , which is one of the most contagious bacteria. A person can get infected with it through:

  • direct contact with a sick animal (mainly hares, wild rabbits, rodents) and its tissues (e.g. when dressing animals)

Tularemia is not human-to-human.

  • by inhaling plant dust contaminated with rodent faeces, e.g. hay, straw, hair from infected animals
  • orally (consumption of contaminated food, water)
  • through the conjunctiva (as a result of rubbing the eyes with the fingers)
  • bites of arthropods (e.g. ticks, mosquitoes)

The most vulnerable to infection are forestry workers, hunters, venison purchase and processing workers, fur factory workers, tanners, butchers, farmers, sugar factory workers, veterinary service, fur breeders, laboratory workers.

In Poland, endemic outbreaks of tularemia occur mainly in the north of the country (in the vicinity of Białystok, Gdańsk, Bydgoszcz, Szczecin) and in the vicinity of Poznań.

Tularemia - symptoms

1. ulcerative-nodal form

Accounts for 45-85 percent all cases of tularemia. The infection occurs as a result of contact with contaminated animal tissues or as a result of bites by infected ticks or mosquitoes:

  • erythematous papules that grow to 1-2 cm in 48 hours and transform into pustules and then ulcers
  • then symptoms joinflu-like (chills, fever, headache, muscle aches)

2. Angina character

It causes exudative inflammation of the throat and mouth, with a tendency to ulcerate the mucosa. po Infection occurs after consuming contaminated water or food:

  • fever
  • chills
  • muscle aches
  • often includes pneumonia
  • cervical lymphadenopathy

3. Gastrointestinal form

Infection is caused by the consumption of contaminated water and food. Depending on the infectious dose, it can take the form of mild diarrhea or acute food with intestinal ulceration.

4. Pulmonary form

This is the most severe form of tularemia. Infection occurs through the respiratory tract or as a result of complications of other forms of tularemia:

  • fever
  • muscle aches
  • headaches
  • chills
  • dry cough
  • pharyngitis
  • chest pain

5. Oculo-nodal form

Develops as a result of rubbing your eyes with your fingers. Conjunctival ulcers and nodules appear.

6. Major character

  • high fever (38-40 degrees)

Francisella tularensis is one of the most infectious bacteria and therefore can be used as a biological weapon.

  • chills
  • headaches
  • muscle aches
  • diarrhea
  • weakness
  • dry cough
  • chest pain

U 50-80 percent of people are diagnosed with secondary pneumonia with purulent sputum and shortness of breath. Mortality reaches 50 percent.

Tularemia - diagnosis

If tularemia is suspected, lymph node samples, scrapings of skin lesions, blood, sputum, urine samples, gastrointestinal material, throat and wound swabs, pleural fluid, as well as samples of contaminated water and food.

Tularemia - treatment

In the case of tularemia, antibiotics such as aminoglycosides, tetracyclines or chloramphenicol can be used. Your doctor may also give you other medications, such as gentamicin and netilmicin.

Worth knowing

Tularemia - how to prevent?

Field rodents and ticks should be de alt with systematically and effectively, and people exposed to this disease in connection with their occupation should follow the he alth and safety rules.

The vaccine can also be used in people who are professionally exposed to infection. However, there are currently no licensed vaccines against tularemia on the market. The only available vaccine is live,attenuated LVS vaccine, which, however, is not widely available and does not prevent 100% of infections.

Bibliography:

Kłapeć T., Cholewa A.,Tularemia - still dangerous zoonosis , "General Medicine and He alth Sciences" 2011, vol. 17, no. 3.

Category:

Infectious diseases