Brucellosis in humans: symptoms and treatment

Brucellosis infection is common in many countries with developed livestock. Infectious allergic diseases are caused by Brucella bacteria. To date, four bacteria of this species are known to cause brucellosis in humans - Br. Melitensis, whose owners are sheep and goats, Br. Abortus, transmitted from cattle, Br. Suis, which is transmitted from hares, pigs and deer, as well as Br. Canis, the carriers of which are dogs, but this kind of bacteria is extremely rare in humans.

In most cases, the source of infection for humans is large and small cattle. A person becomes infected with the use of milk or meat from a sick animal. In addition to alimentary, the contact route of infection, especially when caring for goats and pigs, through contaminated hands, wool, and animal secretions is also important. An aerogenic method of infection is also possible, in which microorganisms with dust particles of animal, manure and wool litter fall into the upper respiratory tract. Brucellosis in humans is of a professional nature, an overwhelming number of patients are workers of milk and meat processing enterprises, veterinarians, and livestock farm workers.

How does the disease manifest itself?

The incubation period usually ranges from a week to a month and a half. Clinical manifestations differ in polymorphism. Distinguish acute form of the disease, subacute, as well as chronic and residual. Often there is a latent form of the disease, in which there is an immuno-allergic alteration of the body. For the acute and subacute form is characterized by a prodromal period, manifested by weakness, headaches, fatigue, after which there are signs of intoxication. Patients with fever accompanied by torrential sweat and chills, an increase in the spleen and liver, as well as lymph nodes, especially the cervical. Often in the subcutaneous tissue, painful nodules are formed - cellulites and fibrosites.

Typically, low blood pressure, muffled heart tones, in some cases, develops pericarditis, myocarditis, endocarditis. When the toxic-septic process develops bronchopneumonia, bronchitis. When the liver is damaged, a slight jaundice is possible. The defeat of the nervous system is usually manifested by weakness, headaches, insomnia, and sometimes mental disorders and phenomena of meningism. Brucellosis in humans often turns into a chronic or subacute form. This is due to the fact that brucellae, localized intracellularly, can persist for a long time and when exposed to adverse factors (stress, hypothermia, overload), lead to a re-generalization of the infection.

The chronic form is characterized by a recurring course and lability of manifestations. Isolate the nervous, osteoarticular, urogenital, visceral and combined forms of chronic disease. Characterized by polyarthritis, perichondritis, bursitis. More often lesion of large joints with redness and restriction of movements is observed. Gradually develop ankylosis, spondyloarthrosis, accompanied by sharp pains. The defeat of the peripheral nervous system is also characteristic - neuralgia, plexitis, radiculitis, paresis. Patients also complain of irritability, sleep disturbance, fatigue. Sometimes hypochondria develop, severe neuroses, reactive conditions.

Brucellosis in humans in many cases is characterized by long residual effects, which are expressed in changes in the neuropsychic sphere, the musculoskeletal system. Residual form is caused by functional disorders of the autonomic nervous system and immuno-allergic alteration of the organism.

Diagnosis and treatment

How can I confirm the diagnosis of brucellosis? Diagnosis is based on the symptoms of the disease, epidemiological history and laboratory data. Currently, serological methods are used. Reactions Wright and Heddelson are positive already in the early period of the disease. In all forms, RPGA and RSK are used, which allow detecting antibodies even to L-forms of bacteria. The most sensitive is the enzyme immunoassay, the Burne test is also used, which remains positive for many years after recovery.

If the patient has acute brucellosis, the treatment should be performed in a hospital. Apply antibiotics according to the schemes, fluoroquinolones, rifampicin, tetracyclines are effective. In the chronic form of the expressed effect it is possible to reach at appointment of the killed medical vaccine. To prevent recurrence, an anti-brucellosis immunoglobulin is used. The patients are shown physioprocedures, physiotherapy exercises, massage, sanatorium treatment.