Tularemia

General description of the disease

It is a natural focal disease of an acute infectious nature that affects the skin, lymph nodes, eyes, lungs and pharynx. At the same time, patients have severe intoxication of the body.

The causative agent and source of tularemia

Tularemia is caused by a gram-negative bacterium of the genus Francisella. It was named after E. Francis, a scientist who studied in detail the vital activity of this bacterium. Francisella is very resistant to external factors. For example, at a water temperature of 4 degrees Celsius, it retains its abilities for about 30 days, in straw or grain, activity continues for six months (at temperatures around and below 0), and for about 20 days (at t = + 25), in a skin dead animals from tularemia persists on average for about a month. The bacteria can be killed by disinfection and exposure to high temperatures.

Sources of bacteria are all types of rodents (aquatic rats, muskrats, vole mice), hares, birds, wild cats and dogs, as well as domestic cloven-hoofed animals.

Methods of transmission of tularemia

The infection is transmitted by insects belonging to the category of blood-sucking insects. Infection can occur from inhaling dust from straw, hemp, grain, eating contaminated food, and drinking contaminated water. There are many known cases of infection of people who have been in direct contact with sick animals when skinning, collecting sick or fallen rodents. Also, cases of illness of workers in alcohol, sugar, starch, treacle, hemp factories, elevators, in the meat industry in slaughterhouses have been registered. An infected person does not pose any danger to other people.

Symptoms and types of tularemia

The incubation period for tularemia is from 1 to 30 days. The incubation period often lasts from 3 to 7 days.

Tularemia begins its manifestation acutely. The patient’s temperature rises sharply to the level of 39-40 degrees, he has chills, severe headaches occur, nausea and vomiting reflexes appear. In this case, the face and neck turn red, the conjunctiva turns red from poured vessels. Rashes appear on the skin, which by 8-10 days begin to dry out and peel off strongly. After the rash has healed, pigmentation may remain on the skin.

The further appearance of symptoms depends on the type of tularemia. These species are distinguished depending on the routes of entry of bacteria into the human body.

When the pathogen enters through the skin, bubonic tularemia… In this case, the skin may not be damaged. The patient develops buboes (the lymph nodes located nearby increase in size). With the further development of the disease, distant lymph nodes can also join this process. The nodes can grow to the size of a chicken egg or walnut. Over time, these buboes dissolve, fester, then fistulas form with the release of pus like fat cream.

When bacteria enters through an insect bite, in most cases, it develops ulcerative bubonic tularemia… In the place where the bite was, a bubo appears and an ulcer opens with raised edges and a small depression. At the bottom, it becomes covered with a black crust.

With the penetration of Francisella through the conjunctiva of the eye begins ocular bubonic tularemia… In this case, the conjunctiva becomes inflamed, ulcers and erosion appear on it, from which yellow pus is released, buboes appear, nearby lymph nodes. In this form of the disease, the cornea is rarely affected. In addition to the above symptoms, swelling of the eyelids appears, and lymphadenitis may occur.

If the source of the disease is ingested through the consumption of contaminated water or food, angina-bubonic form… First, there is a sore throat, the patient has difficulty swallowing food. A visual examination of the oral cavity shows edematous, enlarged, red tonsils, which are, as it were, “welded” with the fiber located around. Tonsils on only one side are covered with a necrotic coating of a gray-white hue, which is difficult to remove. Then deep ulcers appear on them, which heal for a long time and, after healing, leave behind scars. In addition, swelling is observed on the palatine arch and uvula. Buboes appear in the neck, ear and under the jaw (and they appear on the side where the tonsils are affected).

With the defeat of the lymph nodes, the mesentery develops abdominal form of tularemia, which is manifested by severe, cutting abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. Sometimes anorexia occurs against this background. On palpation, pain occurs in the navel, an increase in mesenteric lymph nodes cannot be detected by touch (this can only be done with ultrasound).

Inhalation of dust from dirty vegetables, straw, grains occurs pulmonary form… It proceeds in 2 variations: bronchitic (bronchial, paratracheal, mediastinal lymph nodes are affected, general intoxication of the body is observed, dry cough occurs, wheezing behind the breastbone) and pneumonic (begins acutely, and the course of the disease passes sluggishly, manifests itself as focal pneumonia, complications are often observed in the form abscesses, gangrene of the lungs, pleurisy, bronchiectasis).

The last and most difficult downstream is considered generalized form… According to its clinical signs, it is similar to typhoid infection: constant fever and delusional states, chills, weakness, headaches, consciousness may be clouded, hallucinations and delirium torment. Often, persistent rashes appear on all skin integuments, buboes of various sizes and locations. Also, complications may occur in the form of pneumonia, infectious toxic shock, polyarthritis, meningitis and myocarditis.

Attention!

The administration is not responsible for any attempt to use the information provided, and does not guarantee that it will not harm you personally. The materials cannot be used to prescribe treatment and make a diagnosis. Always consult your specialist doctor!