Introduction:
Tularemia, which is also known as rabbit fever or deer fly fever, is an uncommon infectious disease that affects the eyes, lymph nodes, skin, and lungs. The causative organism is Francisella tularensis which is a bacteria. Mammals are most commonly affected by this disease, more specifically rodents, rabbits, and hares. The disease can also affect birds, domestic animals, sheep, etc. There are various routes of spread of this infection like insect bites and getting exposed to an infected animal directly. It is very contagious and can be life-threatening.
What Are the Symptoms of Tularemia?
The initial symptoms of the disease are visible in affected people within 3 days to 5 days, but it can take up to 14 days also. There are various types of tularemia, and the type depends on the affected site and mode of infection. Symptoms are specific to the type of infection. The following are the types of this disease,
1. Ulceroglandular Tularemia:
It is the most common type and may show the following symptoms:
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An ulcer on the skin where the infection begins can be due to the bite of an insect or animal.
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Painful swelling of the lymph glands or nodes.
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Fever.
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Tiredness.
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Chills.
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Headache.
2. Glandular Tularemia:
People who are infected with this type have almost similar symptoms as mentioned above in the ulceroglandular tularemia type, but these patients do not develop ulcers.
3. Oculoglandular Tularemia:
This type most commonly involves the eyes and may show the following symptoms,
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Pain and redness in the eyes.
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Sensitivity to light.
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Swelling and discharge from the eye.
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Formation of ulcer in the inner side of the eyelid.
4. Oropharyngeal Tularemia:
This type is most commonly caused due to the consumption of improperly cooked meat or contaminated water. The most commonly affected sites in this type are the mouth, digestive tract, and throat. The following are the signs and symptoms that are seen in this type,
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Pain in the throat.
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Fever.
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Diarrhea.
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Vomiting.
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Inflammation in the tonsils.
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Swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck.
5. Pneumonic Tularemia:
This type includes signs and symptoms that are typical of pneumonia and are as follows,
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Pain in the chest.
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Difficulty in breathing.
6. Typhoidal Tularemia:
This type is very uncommon and serious. The signs and symptoms are as follows,
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High fever.
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Extreme exhaustion.
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Enlargement of the spleen which is called splenomegaly.
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Liver enlargement (hepatomegaly).
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Pneumonia.
If you suspect you have been infected with tularemia or have been in an area that has been known to have this disease, you should consult your physician as soon as possible.
What Are the Causes of Tularemia?
This disease does not occur naturally in human beings, and spreading through human-to-human contact has not yet been seen. Its prevalence is more in rural areas due to the presence of mammals and birds, etc. The organism can survive in soil, dead animals, and water for weeks.
This infection does not have a single route like other infections. It can spread through various routes. The symptoms and severity of the infection depend on the route of infection. The various routes through which this infection can spread are as follows:
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Insect Bites - Ticks and deer flies are the most common vectors, and they cause mostly ulceroglandular tularemia.
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Exposure to sick or dead animals.
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Airborne - The bacteria can spread through the air.
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Contaminated food or water.
It is known that heat can kill F. tularensis. Hence, it is advisable to cook meat at a minimum temperature of 165 F (73.8 C) so that the food is safe to eat.
Are There Any Risk Factors?
This disease can affect anyone, but some people can be at more risk of developing it, like those who are living in areas that are prone to this disease and also those who visit such places. People who are in certain occupations or have certain hobbies like hunting, gardening, etc., may develop this condition.
Are There Any Complications?
If this infection is left untreated, it can prove to be life-threatening. There can be certain other complications as follows:
1. Pneumonia or Inflammation of the Lungs -This can lead to failure of the lungs, and hence, respiration will be compromised.
2. Meningitis - It is the inflammation or infection of the brain and spinal cord.This can be fatal sometimes.
3. Pericarditis - Irritation or inflammation of the surrounding tissues or covering of the heart.
4.Osteomyelitis - A bone infection.
How Can Tularemia Be Prevented?
No vaccine has been invented yet for this type of infection, but the following measures can be followed to prevent this infection, especially for those who are prone to this condition via their occupation type.
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Protect yourself from insects. This can be done using an insect repellent. If you are in mosquito-prone areas, then wear full sleeves clothes, and use mosquito repellants.
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Taking precautions while gardening like wearing face masks, etc.
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Wash hands after coming in contact with animals, and cook the meat completely at the proper temperature.
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Take enough precautions to keep your pet animals safe.
How Can Tularemia Be Diagnosed?
This infection has similar symptoms to various other infections, and the physician can check your blood or sputum for the presence of F. tularensis using the culture method. Also, antibody testing can be done to identify the infection and microorganism. Also, a chest X-ray can be used to diagnose pneumonia.
How Can Tularemia Be Treated?
Antibiotics like Streptomycin or Gentamicin can be used to treat this infection, and they can be given via muscular or intravenous injection. Oral antibiotics can also be prescribed depending on the type of infection. If you have developed any complications, that will also be managed specifically.
Conclusion:
Tularemia is an infection that can cause certain complications if not managed on time. Online medical platforms have made a consultation with physicians or specialists easy. Hence, consult with your physician or specialist to get more details on this type of infection.
