Tulyaremiya

Tularemia (Rabbit Fever; Deer-Fly Fever)

What is tularemia?

Туляремия – редкая бактериальная инфекция. The degree of tularemia will depend on the site of action of bacteria. Tularemia can be fatal, if left untreated.

Reasons for tularemia

Tularemia is a bacterium Francisella tularensis. Carriers are its small animals, such as mice and rabbits. Bacteria can go to person through:

• Bites from infected animals, mites, flies or deer;
• Contact with the tissues of an infected animal or contaminated water, food or soil. The causative agent of tularemia can enter the body through the lungs, eyes, mouth, nose or skin.

The infection is not transmitted from person to person.

Risk factors for tularemia

Factors, that may increase the risk of infection include tularemia:

• Hunting, Fishing or butchering infected animals;
• Contact with infected animals or their tissue;
• Working in a laboratory with the bacteria, including the causative agent of tularemia;
• Biological terrorism;
• Eating the meat of an infected animal;
• The bite of an infected mosquito or tick.

Symptoms of tularemia

Symptoms usually appear within 3-5 days after infection. Symptoms will depend on the penetration of bacteria into the body, type and amount of bacteria, who entered the body, and the state of the immune system.

Pulmonary symptoms of tularemia (lung problems):

• Fever;
• Chills;
• Fatigue;
• Headache;
• Pain in the body;
• Sore throat;
• Cough;
• Burning sensation or pain in chest.

Ulceroglandular symptoms of tularemia (skin problems and lymph nodes):

• Raised, red bumps, that continue to swell;
• The raised portion is opened, from it pus and form an ulcer;
• Swollen, hard lymph nodes;
• Fever;
• Chills.

Problems in the lymph nodes when tularemia:

• Swollen, zheskie lymph nodes, that do not cause pain.

Eye problems and lymph nodes:

• Sensitivity to light;
• Isolation of tears;
• Swollen eyelids;
• Edema, redness and sores in the eye;
• Hyperadenosis.

Oropharyngeal symptoms of tularemia:

• Irritated membranes in the mouth;
• Sore throat;
• Ulcers in the throat or on tonsils;
• Hyperadenosis.

Intestinal symptoms of tularemia:

• Fever;
• Abdominal pain;
• Diarrhea;
• Vomiting.

Typhoid symptoms of tularemia:

• Fever;
• Chills;
• Headache;
• Myalgia;
• Poor appetite;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Diarrhea;
• Abdominal pain;
• Cough.

Symptoms of tularemia may progress, whereby there may be:

• Hyperadenosis;
• Labored breathing;
• Bleeding;
• Confusion;
• Coma;
• Organ failure;
• Shock;
• Death.

Diagnosis of tularemia

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, the possible ways of infection, and perform a physical examination.

The doctor may look for signs of tularemia, Having examined the data of the following tests:

• Analysis of body fluids;
• Isolation of bacteria from culture fluids;
• Skin test, to check the immune response;
• Анализ крови – для выявления антител к бактериям туляремии.

If there are problems with light, It can also be made by chest X-ray.

Treatment of tularemia

Most forms of tularemia may be cured with antibiotics. The first few doses of antibiotics are administered intramuscularly or intravenously.

Subsequent use of antibiotics for the treatment of tularemia conducted orally, within a few days after the first dose. Treatment of tularemia may last 10-14 days. Check, that you have passed the entire course of treatment and take all prescribed medications, even if symptoms disappear tularemia.

Cases of infection with tularemia is under special control of public health authorities. This helps them to track any outbreaks.

Prevention of tularemia

To prevent infection with tularemia:

• Do not handle sick or dead animals;
• Wear gloves, mask and goggles when working with animal skins or cutting;
• Well boiled or roasted meat in cooking venison;
• Use caution, if you live in an area, where ticks are common or horseflies:
  • Wear protective clothing;
  • Use insect repellents;
  • Inspect your skin, to timely detect ticks;
  • Do not touch the ticks with bare hands;
  • Follow precautions when working in a laboratory.