The initial symptoms of brucellosis are similar to those of the flu, with fever, headache and muscle pain, for example, however, as the disease progresses, other symptoms may appear, such as tremors and memory changes.
Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella , which can be transmitted to people through the consumption of undercooked meat or ingestion of unpasteurized milk and dairy products. In addition, as this bacterium can be found in some animals, mainly sheep and cows, Brucella can also be acquired by the person through direct contact with blood, saliva, feces or other secretions of the contaminated animals.
Main symptoms
The symptoms of brucellosis can appear between 10 and 30 days after contact with the microorganism and are similar to those of influenza, and can be easily confused, which makes diagnosis and start of treatment difficult. Initial symptoms of brucellosis usually include:
- Fever higher than 38ºC and chills; Sweating; Severe headache; Muscle aches; Generalized pains in the body; Feeling unwell; Tiredness; Chills; Abdominal pain; Alteration of memory; Tremors.
These symptoms can disappear for weeks or months and then come back, so in the presence of fever with a rapid onset, muscle pain or weakness, the person should see the doctor to have a blood test, confirm the disease and follow the treatment.
Complications of brucellosis
Complications of brucellosis arise when the diagnosis is not made or when the treatment is not performed correctly, favoring the proliferation of the microorganism and spreading to other organs through the bloodstream. Thus, there may be cardiac complications, brain involvement, inflammation of the nerves, testicular alterations, biliary, liver and bone problems.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of brucellosis is made with the aim of isolating and identifying the bacterium that causes the disease, through the culture of blood, bone marrow, tissues or secretion. In addition, the doctor may order serological or molecular tests to confirm the disease.
The differential diagnosis of brucellosis is made for bacterial endocarditis and typhoid fever, for example, since brucellosis can reach other organs and there are complications.
Treatment for brucellosis
The treatment for brucellosis is usually done with antibiotics for about 2 months in order to eliminate the disease-causing bacteria from the patient's body, and the use of tetracycline associated with rifampicin is usually indicated by the infectologist or general practitioner.
In addition, preventive measures must be taken, such as avoiding consuming unpasteurized homemade dairy products or undercooked meat, for example, to prevent further contamination. Understand how brucellosis treatment and prevention is done.
