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$Unique_ID{BRK03545}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Brucellosis}
$Subject{Brucellosis Undulant Fever Malta Fever Mediterranean Fever Gibraltar
Fever Bang Disease Melitococcosis Neapolitan Fever Rock Fever Febris
Melitensis Febris Sudoralis Febris Undulans Fievre Caprine Brucellemia
Brucelliasis Melitensis Septicemia Maltese Fever Phthisis Cyprus Fever Goat
Fever Goat's Milk Fever Chronic Brucellosis Subacute Brucellosis Acute
Brucellosis}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1986 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
206:
Brucellosis
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible the main title of the article (Brucellosis) is not the
name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the alternate
names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Undulant Fever
Malta Fever
Mediterranean Fever
Gibraltar Fever
Bang Disease
Melitococcosis
Neapolitan Fever
Rock Fever
Febris Melitensis
Febris Sudoralis
Febris Undulans
Fievre Caprine
Brucellemia
Brucelliasis
Melitensis Septicemia
Maltese Fever
Phthisis
Cyprus Fever
Goat Fever
Goat's Milk Fever
Chronic Brucellosis
Subacute Brucellosis
Acute Brucellosis
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Brucellosis is an infectious disease characterized by an acute stage with
fever with few or no localizing signs , and a chronic stage with relapses of
fever, weakness, profuse sweating, and vague aches and pains. The disorder
occurs worldwide, and most often occurs as a result of drinking unpasteurized
milk.
Symptoms
Onset of Brucellosis may be sudden and acute, with chills and fever, severe
headache, pains, malaise, and, occasionally, diarrhea. In some cases onset
may be more gradual, beginning with mild malaise, muscular pain, headache,
and pain in the back of the neck followed by a rise in body temperature
during the evening. As the disease progresses, body temperature increases to
40-41 C (104-105 F) during the evening, subsiding gradually to normal or near
normal in the morning when profuse sweating occurs.
Intermittent fever usually persists for 1 to 5 weeks, followed by a 2 to
14 day remission when symptoms are greatly diminished or absent. The fever
phase can recur. Sometimes this pattern occurs only once. Occasionally,
however, subacute or chronic Brucellosis follows, with repeated waves of
fever and remissions recurring over months or years.
Constipation usually is pronounced; anorexia (loss of appetite), weight
loss, abdominal pain, and joint pain may be present. The patient may also
experience headache, backache, weakness, and irritability. Insomnia
(inability to sleep), mental depression, and emotional instability can occur.
Splenomegaly (enlarged spleen) appears, and lymph nodes may be slightly
enlarged.
Patients with acute, uncomplicated Brucellosis usually recover within 2
to 3 weeks. It is unusual for chronic Brucellosis to result in prolonged ill
health, but this can occur.
The total white blood cell count is usually normal or sometimes reduced
with an excess of normal lymph cells in the blood (lymphocytosis).
In some cases, tests for Brucellosis may show positive results only
during the period in which the patient has a fever. At other times, test
results may be negative.
Complications of Brucellosis are rare, but may include subacute bacterial
endocarditis, meningitis, encephalitis, neuritis, orchitis, cholecystitis,
hepatic suppuration, and bone lesions.
Causes
Brucellosis is acquired by direct contact with secretions and excretions of
infected animals, or by ingesting milk or milk products (e.g., cheese and
butter) from cows, sheep, or goats which contain the live Brucella bacteria.
It is rarely transmitted from person to person, and most often is transmitted
by drinking unpasteurized milk.
The bacteria which causes human Brucellosis is Brucella abortus carried
by cattle, Brucella suis carried by hogs, Brucella melitensis transmitted by
sheep and goats, and Brucella rangiferi which is carried by Alaskan and
Siberian caribou. Brucella canis, carried by dogs, has caused sporadic
infections.
Affected Population
Brucellosis is most prevalent in rural area. It is an occupational hazard of
meat packers, veterinarians, farmers, and livestock producers. Children are
less susceptible than adults. The disease occurs worldwide.
During 1984, 131 cases of Brucellosis were reported to the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The reported occurrence sharply decreased
from 1947 until 1965 because of widespread adoption of dairy-product
pasteurization and the bovine-brucellosis eradication program. The downward
trend continued at a slower rate until 1978, when a plateau of approximately
0.1 identified cases/100,000 population/year was achieved.
Therapies: Standard
Brucellosis can be prevented by the pasteurization of milk and by eating only
aged cheese. Persons handling animals or carcasses that are likely to be
infected should wear rubber gloves and protect skin breaks from bacterial
invasion. Every effort should be made to detect the infection in animals and
control it at is source.
Tetracycline is used to treat Brucellosis. Seriously ill patients are
also given streptomycin. Prednisone is prescribed if toxemia (the presence
of toxins in the blood) occurs. Severe body pains, especially through the
spine, may require pain relieving medications such as codeine.
Activity should be restricted in acute cases. Bed rest is recommended
during periods of fever.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
September 1989 Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Brucellosis, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3534
FDA Office of Consumer Affairs
5600 Fishers Lane Rm. 12-A-40
Rockville, MD 20857
(301) 443-4903
References
CECIL TEXTBOOK OF MEDICINE, 18th ed.: James B. Wyngaarden, and Lloyd H.
Smith, Jr., Eds.: W. B. Saunders Co., 1988. Pp. 1676-9.
THE MERCK MANUAL 15th ed: R. Berkow, et al: eds; Merck, Sharp & Dohme
Research Laboratories, 1987. P. 109.