A gram negative bacterial infection caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Humans are infected by ingesting unpasteurized milk or meat from infected animals. Signs and symptoms include fevers, sweating, weakness, headache, muscle pain, arthritis and anemia
Symptoms of Brucellosis
The following features are indicative of Brucellosis:
fever
sweats
malaise
anorexia
headache
pain in muscles
joint pain
fatigue
recurrent fevers
arthritis
swelling of the testicle and scrotum area
swelling of the heart (endocarditis)
neurologic symptoms
chronic fatigue
depression
swelling of the liver or spleen
Get TabletWise Pro
Thousands of Classes to Help You Become a Better You.
Common Causes of Brucellosis
The following are the most common causes of Brucellosis:
consumption of unpasteurized milk made from the milk of infected animals
Brucella melitensis
Other Causes of Brucellosis
The following are the less common causes of Brucellosis:
consumption of unpasteurized milk made from the milk of infected animals
Brucella melitensis
eating undercooked meat
breathing in the bacteria that cause brucellosis
bacteria entering the body through skin wounds or mucous membranes
Risk Factors for Brucellosis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Brucellosis:
Brucella melitensis bacteria
Mediterranean Sea
Eastern Europe
Latin America
Asia
Africa
The Caribbean
Middle East
veterinarians
dairy farmers
ranchers
slaughterhouse workers
hunters
microbiologists
Prevention of Brucellosis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Brucellosis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
avoid unpasteurized dairy foods
cook meat thoroughly
wear gloves
take safety precautions in high-risk workplaces
vaccinate domestic animals
Occurrence of Brucellosis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Brucellosis cases seen each year worldwide:
Rare between 10K - 50K cases
Common Age Group
Brucellosis can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Brucellosis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Brucellosis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Brucellosis:
X-ray examination: To reveal changes in bones and joints
Computerized tomography (CT) scan: To identify inflammation or abscesses in the brain or other tissues
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): To identify inflammation or abscesses in the brain or other tissues
Cerebrospinal fluid culture: To check small sample of the fluid that surrounds brain and spinal cord for infections such as meningitis and encephalitis
Echocardiography: To create images of heart to check for signs of infection or damage to heart
Doctor for Diagnosis of Brucellosis
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Brucellosis:
Infectious disease specialist
Complications of Brucellosis if untreated
Yes, Brucellosis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Brucellosis is left untreated:
endocarditis
arthritis
epididymo-orchitis
inflammation and infection of the spleen and liver
central nervous system infections
Self-care for Brucellosis
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Brucellosis:
Avoid unpasteurized dairy foods: Helps preventing the bacteria to enter body from food
Cook meat thoroughly: Helps killing the bacteria completely if present in the food
Wear gloves: Helps preventing the bacteria to enter body through wounds
Vaccinate domestic animals: Helps preventing the animals to get infected
Time for Treatment of Brucellosis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Brucellosis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
In 6 months - 1 year
Is Brucellosis Infectious?
Yes, Brucellosis is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
ingestion of unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat from infected animals
